
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Information Governance
Medical Directorate
NHS Grampian
Rosehill House
Foresterhill Site
Cornhill Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZG
BY EMAIL
Date 6 January 2022
A Bhadani
Our Ref
FOI/2021/803
request-814428-
Enquiries to Information Governance Team
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Extension 51319
Direct Line 01224 551319
Email
xxxx.xxx@xxx.xxxx
Dear A Bhadani
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
I refer to your e-mail dated 7 December 2021, requesting:
“- How many people who have made a request for PrEP under your jurisdiction through
the NHS have been denied? Both as a figure, and as a percentage of total requests made
for PrEP overall.
- In cases where people were denied access to PrEP under your jurisdiction through the
NHS, what were the reasons given for refusal of PrEP?
- What is the demographic breakdown of people who were refused access to PrEP under
your jurisdiction through the NHS?”
I can now respond as follows:
NHS Grampian Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Eligibility
In July 2017, NHS Grampian commenced provision of NHS funded HIV PrEP as per
nationally agreed eligibility criteria. Al data in this report is extracted from NaSH (National
Sexual Health System), the national patient management system utilised in the majority of
sexual health clinics in Scotland.
How many people who have made a request for PrEP under your jurisdiction
through the NHS have been denied? Both as a figure, and as a percentage of total
requests made for PrEP overall.
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OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
People who do not
Total patients who
meet the NHS
have been prescribed
eligibility criteria for
PrEP
PrEP
July 2017 –
November
233
994
2021
Percentage of
total requests
19%
n/a
Al patients who request PrEP via the service wil be offered an opportunity to discuss their
eligibility with a trained clinician, in line with prescribing practices, and assessed against
the eligibility criteria. The data above shows the number of patients eligible, and therefore
have been prescribed PrEP, and those who have not met the eligibility criteria. The data
includes patients who have requested PrEP but there may have been instances where
patients have not requested PrEP directly, but have been assessed opportunistically, so
this data is also included.
A full case note review of all 233 would be required to provide this data accurately; s.12 of
the Act refers – Excessive cost of compliance.
In cases where people were denied access to PrEP under your jurisdiction through
the NHS, what were the reasons given for refusal of PrEP?
The reason for refusal is due to not fulfilling the national agreed criteria.
What is the demographic breakdown of people who were refused access to PrEP
under your jurisdiction through the NHS?
Gender:
>95% identify as male
Age:
16 - 25
61
26 - 35
99
36 - 45
42
46+
31
Sexuality:
95% identify as gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men. Remainder not
documented; s.17 of the Act refers – Information not held.
Under section 20 (1) of the Act, if you are dissatisfied with the way NHS Grampian has
dealt with your request, you have a right to request a review of our actions and decisions
in relation to your request, and you have a right to appeal to the Scottish Information
Commissioner.
A request for review must be made within 40 working days and should, in the first
instance, be in writing to: Directorate of Corporate Communications, Foresterhil House,
Foresterhil , Aberdeen, AB25 2ZB or by email to
xxxx.xxx@xxx.xxxx
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Requests for appeal can be made by using the Scottish Information Commissioner’s online
service at
www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal or should be made in writing to: Scottish
Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16
9DS Telephone: 01334 464610, Fax: 01334 464611.
If you remain dissatisfied following an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner
your recourse is to the Court of Session on a point of law.
Yours sincerely
Roohi Bains
Information Governance Manager & Deputy DPO
NHS Grampian
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