Request

I would like to know the monthly number of Healthy Start entitled beneficiaries, eligible beneficiaries and uptake % at ward level for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets from November 2023 to March 2024.

Date range: 01/11/23 to 31/03/24

Response

A copy of the information is attached.

Notice – eligibility and uptake statistics

Please note that, due to an issue with a data feed at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the number of eligible beneficiaries reported between July 2023 and February 2024 was incorrect, which means that the calculated uptake percentage was overstated. This issue did not impact any NHS Healthy Start individual applicants, existing beneficiaries, or payments. Further details can be found at the below web links.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-03-26/hcws389 https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/

In light of the above, we advise that the eligibility data for November 2023 to February 2024 should not be relied upon. We have supplied this as this is the information which was held when you submitted your request, and the FOIA requires disclosure of information even if it is inaccurate.

We can advise that all of the data on the number of people in receipt of the benefit is correct, and the eligibility data for March 2024 is correct.

We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

The second web link shown above is a publication of NHS Healthy Start uptake data at local authority level, and it also provides more detail on interpreting the uptake data. Please ensure that you read this.

Please note that this request and our response is published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-01857