Thank you for your request for information about the following:

In follow up to FOI 01666, under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to update these details and request 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 15 April 2024 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

A copy of the information is attached. Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data.

All data as of 17th April 2024

Fewer Than 10 Beneficiaries

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the exact number of beneficiaries where the number is fewer than 10 (denoted by ‘<10’), or when the change since FOI-01666 (https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-01666) is fewer than 10 (denoted by ‘*’). This is because the beneficiaries 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 claimant 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 claimant.

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 beneficiaries is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. A beneficiary who has been identified could make a claim against the 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

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 2024” 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.