The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice finding that the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB) breached sections 1(1)(b) and 10(1) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The breach occurred because the ICB provided information relating to Ophthalmology services to a complainant after the statutory 20-working-day timeframe. Although the Commissioner determined that the ICB did not hold further information beyond what was already provided, the delay itself constituted a violation.

This decision serves as a reminder to public authorities, particularly within the health sector, of the importance of adhering to statutory deadlines for information requests. While the ICO does not require further steps in this specific case due to the nature of the breach and the information held, regulated entities should ensure their internal processes are robust enough to meet FOIA time limits to avoid potential breaches and uphold transparency obligations.