Request
FOI REQUEST
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide details of
all NHS staff and registered pharmacists who are permitted to refuse to perform, prescribe, dispense, administer, etc, drugs and/or medical procedures due to their personal or religious beliefs during the last 10 years.
I would like the response to include the number of individuals given such dispensation and the “running totals” for each year during the period, and the professions and locations of each.
I would prefer to receive the information in electronic format, to the enclosed email address. However, if it is more convenient, I would be happy to receive the information in hard copy format.
If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.
***PLEASE NOTE, IN PARTICULAR, THAT I WILL NOT ACCEPT THE IMPOSITION OF QUALIFIED EXEMPTIONS ON A BLANKET BASIS; I WILL REQUIRE, AT THE VERY LEAST, EVIDENCE THAT AN ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO MAKE A PARTIAL DISCLOSURE OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION, IN A REDACTED, DIGESTED OR EDITED FORM.***
I, of course, reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.
Thank you for your assistance.
Our response
I refer to your email requesting information in respect of NHS staff and registered pharmacists who are permitted to refuse to perform, prescribe, dispense, administer drugs and /or medical procedures due to their personal or religious beliefs during the last 10 years.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do not hold the information that you have requested.
However, I am able to advise you that professional bodies / regulators will provide general guidance for the provision of services affected by religious or moral beliefs. For example the General Pharmaceutical Council provides guidance for pharmacists who are obliged to refer the patient to a colleague or another provider, and advise the relevant authorities. It is possibly the case that similar guidance exists for other professions.
It might be the case that organisational HR Leads or Primary Care Trust contract Leads are best placed to answer your query. I should advise you that that it could take some considerable time for the relevant organisations to locate and collate the relevant records. Nevertheless, you can contact our constituent organisations via our website at the following link:
http://www.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/the-local-nhs/nhs-organisations/
I hope that this information is of use. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
