Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant has requested information from the Pewsey Surgery (the -�Practice-�) concerning the surgery and its expenditure for 2009-2011. The Practice provided some information and initially applied section 43(2) to the request for total GP pay, arguing that the partners of the Practice are paid out of the profits of the business. During the course of the investigation, the Practice explained that it does not hold the requested total GP pay. This is because its partners are paid out of the joint NHS and private profits of the business and it cannot separate the two. It therefore argued it does not hold a payment figure made with regard to NHS work only. It therefore considered that the information it holds in relation to GP pay falls outside the remit of the FOIA. The Commissioner-�s decision is that the Practice does hold the information requested for the purposes of the FOIA. However he considers this information to be exempt under section 43(2) of the FOIA and therefore does not require any steps to be taken.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 43 - Complaint Not upheld