Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

‘I am submitting this request to obtain data regarding the number of patients who have received:

Question 1

• Enquiry letters

• Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

after receiving dental treatment at Darnall Dental Clinic, 652-654 Staniforth Rd, Sheffield S9 4LP during the period 11/02/2023 to 11/02/2025.

Question 2

Specifically, I would like data on patients who:

• were of pension age and declared that they were in receipt of a pension at the time of treatment.

• subsequently received an enquiry letter followed by a PCN, having been determined not to be exempt from NHS dental charges.

Question 3

For these cases, please confirm:

-The total number of patients who received an enquiry letter and were later issued a PCN.

• How many of these PCNs were upheld.

• How many PCNs were later retracted, and for what reasons.

• Of the cases where a PCN was retracted, how many patients ultimately paid:

  a) nothing
  
  b) a reduced amount
  
  c) the full amount for their dental treatment.
  

This request relates to an ongoing complaint I am pursuing on behalf of a family member. If any part of this request requires clarification, please let me know.

I look forward to your response within your published timeframes.’

[On 26 February 2025 we requested the following clarification]

Question 1

We can provide the data requested from February 2023 to December 2024. We have not yet received the full sample of January’s treatments, and February treatments have not yet entered the exemption checking process.

Questions 2 & 3

The NHSBSA does not hold data showing declaration of a pension, so we are unable to answer these questions.

Can you please confirm if you are happy for us to proceed with your FOI answering question 1? If so, can you please confirm if you would like data from February 2023 to December 2024 or if you would prefer a different timeframe?

[On 3 March 2025 you provided the following clarification]

I would be grateful if you could provide the info that you can in relation to Q1 and with regards to time periods, Feb 2023 to Dec 2024 is fine.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 11 February 2025, with clarification received on 3 March 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested, and a copy of the information is attached.

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 2025” 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.