NHS international recruitment: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
1. Please could you provide me with any correspondence from the Scottish government to NHS boards that mentions international recruitment. Please include annexes and all other attachments to the correspondence.
2. Please could you confirm whether the Scottish government is following the UK Government’s code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel? If not, please could you provide the code or rules about which countries can be recruited from by NHS boards.
Response
1. Attached is a copy of some of the information requested.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemptions under sections 30(c) (effective conduct of public affairs); and section 29(1)(a) (policy formulation); of FOISA applies to that information. These exemptions are subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.
An exemption(s) under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA also applies to some of the information enclosed as it contains personal information. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
2. I can confirm that the Scottish Government published its own Code of Practice on 26 February 2021 which can be found here. The Code adheres to the common aims, objectives and guiding principles of the UK code of practice, but reflects our differing organisational structures.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
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