Request

I have a question about the criteria that NHSBSA/EIBSS use for the Hepatitis Stage 2 criteria and I would be grateful if you could clarify this for me. I may have emailed asking this or a similar question previously but cant remember; I wonder if you might have a copy in your files? At a previous Focus Group meeting that I attended some years ago now in Newcastle a question was raised about “pre paid” funeral plans for those at HCV Stage 2 and the reason EIBSS gave for making these “pre paid” funeral payments to those at Stage 2 was due to the fact that after seeking medical advice EIBSS consider Hepatitis C Stage 2 to be a terminal condition. EIBSS also stated the medical advice is this is not the same for those that have HIV.
Could you advise if NHSBSA/EIBSS use the same criteria today?
Could I also ask you to send me copies of the medical advice EIBSS received confirming the Hepatitis C stage 2 terminal condition criteria and any other medical advice EIBSS have been given confirming HIV is not now considered a terminal condition.

Response

I can confirm that the criteria regarding funeral prepayment plans remains unchanged and can be found on our website at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/discretionary-support

This policy has been in place since the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) commencement 1st November 2017.

We do not hold documents on medical advice specifically relating to Hepatitis C Stage 2 and the criteria of the funeral prepayment plan.

The medical advice regarding HIV can be found via a previous FOI response via this link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-24389