Request

Q1.The makeup and qualifications of the panel members who sat on my appeal.

Q2.Information if the panel members were in surgical practice in 1995 and whether they had specifical experience of Head trauma and Haematology.

Q3. Were the panel members in practice dealing specifically with HIV and the cause and transmission of HIV.

Q4. The number of approved applications after 2020 made to EIBSS for transmission of HIV infection via contaminated blood or blood products post 1985

Q5. What hours do the panel meeting meet e.g 9-3pm? and how much time do they have for lunch e.g. 30mins

Q6.if the panel members, have at any time had any contact in either a personal or professional capacity with Mr Bracka or Dr Miller. Also, if they had any contact personal or professional with Dudley NHS Trust or Wordsley Hospital please describe when and in what capacity.

Response

I can confirm that the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) holds some of the information you have requested.

Question 1 - The makeup and qualifications of the panel members who sat on my appeal.

Under Section 21 of the FOIA we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.

The information you requested is available at the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-24399

Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21

Question 2 - Information if the panel members were in surgical practice in 1995 and whether they had specifical experience of Head trauma and Haematology

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 NHSBSA. To answer this question, information would need to be provided by panel members from memory, rather than relying on recorded information.

Question 3 - Were the panel members in practice dealing specifically with HIV and the cause and transmission of HIV

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 NHSBSA. To answer this question, information would need to be provided by panel members from memory, rather than relying on recorded information.

Question 4 - The number of approved applications after 2020 made to EIBSS for transmission of HIV infection via contaminated blood or blood products post 1985

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 NHSBSA. The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) does not retain the infection date of beneficiaries on the scheme, however we would highlight that the service specification notes:

"all NHS blood in England was being screened for HIV from October 1985 onwards so it is very unlikely (although not impossible) that HIV was transmitted through infected NHS blood after October 1985.”

So, while it is "very unlikely" for an infection post October 1985, it is not impossible, thus our medical assessors base their decision on the balance of probabilities that an infection could take place via NHS blood or blood products post 1985. This is determined by a combination of the application and all supporting evidence provided which the medical assessors will review.

Question 5 - What hours do the panel meeting meet e.g 9-3pm? and how much time do they have for lunch e.g. 30mins

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 NHSBSA regarding length of meetings or breaks

Question 6 - if the panel members, have at any time had any contact in either a personal or professional capacity with Mr Bracka or Dr Miller. Also, if they had any contact personal or professional with Dudley NHS Trust or Wordsley Hospital please describe when and in what capacity.

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 NHSBSA. To answer this question, information would need to be provided by panel members from memory, rather than relying on recorded information.

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.

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025” 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.