Information Governance
Medical Directorate
NHS Grampian
Rosehill House
Foresterhill Site
Cornhill Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZG
BY EMAIL
Date
15 June 2020
George Harris
Our Ref
FOI/2020/269
request-667464-
Enquiries to Information Governance Team
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Extension 51319
Direct Line 01224 551319
Email
xxxx.xxx@xxx.xxx
Dear Mr Harris
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 I refer to your e-mail 27 May 2020, requesting:
“Please could you inform me
The number of patients within the NHS Grampian region receiving ongoing treatment for
Pernicious Anaemia and other non dietary related vitamin B12 deficiencies. This may be
either through number of patients registered as having the condition or number of patients
regularly prescribed methylcobalmin injections on a 12 week or less cycle, as of the start of
March 2020.
Could you also inform me how many of these patients have had the essential injections
refused and replaced with b12 supplements in tablet form as a result of the coronavirus
pandemic.”
I can now respond as follows:
Please could you inform me
The number of patients within the NHS Grampian region receiving ongoing treatment
for Pernicious Anaemia and other non dietary related vitamin B12 deficiencies. This
may be either through number of patients registered as having the condition or
number of patients regularly prescribed methylcobalmin injections on a 12 week or
less cycle, as of the start of March 2020.
AND,
Could you also inform me how many of these patients have had the essential
injections refused and replaced with b12 supplements in tablet form as a result of the
coronavirus pandemic.
In relation to all of the above please be advised that NHS Grampian does not hold this
information; s.17 of the Act refers – Information not held.
Testing for B12 deficiency is carried out by GP’s and they institute therapy without the
input of secondary care. This information may be available from individual GP practices.
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, Foresterhill House, Foresterhill,
Aberdeen, AB25 2ZB or by email to xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
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
Acting Information Governance Manager
NHS Grampian
