Thank you for your request for information about the following:

‘Since the Infected Blood Inquiry was announced in July 2017, how many deaths to date have there been for those registered under the English Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS)?

From within which categories did these occur? (Hepatitis C, HIV, co-infected, widows etc)

And could you break this down into Haemophiliacs (bleeding disorders) or other? (Route of infection) assuming this data is now being collected?

Finally, could you please provide the current number of beneficiaries for EIBSS, with a breakdown of the categories as well please.’

Your request was received on 18 January 2024 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

Please note, EIBSS began 1 November 2017 therefore the data provided is from 1 November 2017 to 23 January 2024.

Question 2

Fewer Than 10

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the claimant details where the total number of claimants falls below 10. This is because the claimants could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available.

This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3A (a) of the Freedom of Information Act.

This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a) it is not fair to disclose claimants personal details to the world and is likely to cause damage or distress.

b) these details are not of sufficient interest to the public to warrant an intrusion into the privacy of the patients.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

Breach of Patient confidentiality

Please note that the identification of claimants is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. A claimant who has been identified could make a claim against the NHSBSA for the disclosure of the confidential information.

The information requested is therefore being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 41(1) ‘Information provided in confidence’ of the Freedom of Information Act.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/41

Question 1

There have been 504 deaths of those registered under EIBSS.

Question 2

A copy of the information is attached.

Question 3

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority. This is because bleeding disorders and/or route to infection is not recorded.

Question 4

A copy of the information is attached.

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement:

“NHSBSA Copyright 2023” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.