Request

I am writing to request data on the uptake of the Digital Healthy Start scheme within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area. Specifically, I am looking for:

• The number of individuals as a % currently enrolled in the scheme within Hywel Dda UHB.

• If available, a breakdown by local authority (Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire).

• Any available historical data or trends in uptake over the past 12–24 months.

• Information on eligibility vs. uptake rates, if these figures are currently reliable.

Response

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

Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data.

The NHSBSA does not hold the proportion of eligible beneficiaries as an issue has been identified with the source data that is used to calculate uptake of the NHS Healthy Start scheme since January 2023. We have therefore removed the columns for the number of people eligible for the scheme and the uptake percentage from January 2023 onwards, from the Healthy Start website, while we investigate this further with the data provider. We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause and endeavour to provide an update as soon as we can.

The issue has only affected the data on the number of people eligible for the scheme. It has not prevented anyone from joining the scheme or continuing to access the scheme if they were eligible.

This data provided shows the number of people on the digital scheme (formerly called entitled beneficiaries). This includes the number of children under the age of four and the number of pregnancies over ten weeks.

The data reflects all people who have been accepted onto the scheme through an online application and issued with a prepaid card at a specific point in time.

Fewer than five

Please be aware that I have decided not to release figures where the total number of People on Digital Scheme falls below five (<5). This is because the individuals 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 3 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a - it is not fair to disclose individual’s 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 individual.  

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full.   

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40    

Please see the below explanation of terms used in the data.

Local Authority Code - The local authority code the full postcode relates to the latest NSPL data available (source: ONS NSPL).

Local Authority - The local authority the full postcode relates to the latest NSPL data available (source: ONS NSPL).

Ward Code - The ward code the full postcode relates to the latest NSPL data available (source: ONS NSPL).

Ward - The ward the full postcode relates to the latest NSPL data available (source: ONS NSPL).

Total People on Digital Scheme (formerly Entitled Beneficiaries) - The total number of people on the digital scheme (for the reporting month). This includes the number of children under the age of four and the number of pregnancies over ten weeks.

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.