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Papers reveal behind-the-scenes news thanks to FOI

Regional newspapers are able to bring readers more details of what is going on behind the scenes at their local authorities, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act.

The new law, which came into force on January 1, is helping newspapers to uncover details on topics such as school admission policies, hospital waiting lists, restaurant hygiene inspection reports and repairs to council buildings.

At the Eastern Daily Press, FOI has meant confidential documents covering the Private Finance Initiative scheme to build Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has been made public for the first time, after being signed in 1998.

The Milford and West Wales Mercury has also been able to publish never-before-seen details, revealing how the superbug MRSA was considered a factor in the death of six patients treated at a local hospital last year.

The weekly newspaper asked Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust for figures concerning Withybush Hopital and was told seven patients had blood culture, confirming MRSA bacteraemia and that six had later died.

It was also able to reveal financial details of a controversial rockery outside County Hall.

Back in 2001 the newspaper was able to report its cost as £31,000, but further inquiries under the FOI have revealed that after its construction the council subsequently paid out a further £10,000, including more than £7,000 on plants.

Nationally, central government received more than 4,000 requests for information in January, from the background to major constitutional changes to NATO agreements.

Of these, about half have been made from journalists. Campaigning organisations and individual members of the public have also made wide use of the new powers.