Released 27 May 2022
Request:
In the period 1st January 2018 – the present (2nd May 2022), how many non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)/agreements with ‘confidentiality clauses’ has this trust signed with staff or contractors relating to complaints and/or settlements regarding:
- sexual harassment
- assault
- discrimination
- any other not included above
Please break the data down by year and by stated category (e.g sexual harassment).
Information disclosed:
Under Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Trust can confirm that it holds information relevant to your request, however, we are unable to provide it at this time.
Please note University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2021, with the merger of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
In the context of your request, the information that the legacy Trusts and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust hold relevant to settlement agreements is not stored on a central administration system but is instead retained within individual personnel files.
Section 12 provision [cost limit] under the FOIA was applied.
Section 40(2) [personal information] exemption under the FOIA was applied.
We would not hold information of this nature relevant to contractors. Since this information is not held by the Trust, it is not available under the Act.
Where the Trust has used settlement agreements, these have been in line with guidance issued by NHS Employers.