Request

I wonder if you could answer a query I have re. non-digital recipients of Healthy Start please?

Is it possible (or will it be possible going forwards, I can see there are currently issues around the reporting of HS uptake in general) to request how many non-digital recipients (e.g. mothers aged <18), we have in our area, as well as the published data which shows those on the digital offer please?

I have previously requested postcode sector level data (which was sent to us) and am wondering if we could do the same with non-digital recipients in the future, to get a fuller picture?

On the 16 September 2024 you clarified the following:

My request was merely to ask whether this information was held and whether it was possible to request it. I presume my request being passed onto the FOI team indicates this information is held and can be requested, so the area I am requesting is the local authority of Wirral.

Response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested.

As of 23 September 2024 there are three households receiving NHS Healthy Start payments in Wirral who are not on the digital scheme.

As of 23 September 2024 there are 2,094 people on the digital scheme in Wirral.

The majority of people can apply online for NHS Healthy Start and are counted in the ‘people on the digital scheme’ figures. This includes people who receive Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Some people are not able to make a digital application to the scheme, including people who receive a legacy benefit and people who are under the age of 18 and pregnant who do not receive any benefits. This group currently accounts for a small minority of people on the NHS Healthy Start scheme.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

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” 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.