FOI – 2025-000044 Healthcare Workers (HTML)
Date received – 12 February 2024 | Date responded – 28 February 2024
Request
- What number of Healthcare Workers reported an incidence of exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF) in theatre during a total hip or knee replacement, by year since 2021?
- The average cost to treat a Healthcare Worker with a reported incidence of exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF).
- Please provide details of the number of working days lost due to musculoskeletal disorder injuries by members of staff working in theatres, by year since 2021. What is the cost of losing these workdays, by year since 2021?
- What is the cost per tonne to dispose of clinical waste?
- How many tonnes of clinical waste did the Trust send to incineration, by year since 2021?
- Could you please provide data on reported instances where a polyp sample was taken during an endoscopy procedure but was not successfully transferred to the sample collection container? If possible, please include the number of such instances per year since 2021.
- Could you please provide information on the average cost to readmit a patient following an instance where a polyp was taken during an endoscopy procedure but was not successfully transferred to the sample collection container ('lost polyp')?
Response
1. What number of Healthcare Workers reported an incidence of exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF) in theatre during a total hip or knee replacement, by year since 2021?
Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, NSS does not hold this information.
2. The average cost to treat a Healthcare Worker with a reported incidence of exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF).
Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 NSS does not hold this information.
3. Please provide details of the number of working days lost due to musculoskeletal disorder injuries by members of staff working in theatres, by year since 2021. What is the cost of losing these workdays, by year since 2021?
Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, NSS does not hold this information.
4. What is the cost per tonne to dispose of clinical waste?
Under Section 33(1)(b) of FOISA for “Substantial Prejudice to Commercial Interests”, NSS cannot disclose this information as it is considered commercially sensitive.
NSS has concluded that disclosing this information could significantly harm the commercial interests of both NSS and our supplier. Given the small market for clinical waste disposal in the UK, releasing such details could provide competitors with insights into our supplier's commercial offerings, potentially affecting market competitiveness. Additionally, sharing this information could negatively impact NSS's ability to procure goods and services at the most advantageous prices.
As the Section33(1)(b) exemption is a “qualified” exemption, a “Public Interest Test” must be carried out in order to determine if the exemption can be applied.
FOISA does not define the public interest. It has been described elsewhere as “something which is of serious concern and benefit to the public”, not merely something of individual interest. It has also been described as “something that is “in the interest of the public”, not merely “of interest to the public.” In other words, it serves the interests of the public.
NSS has recognised that there is always a strong public interest in Scottish public authorities acting in an open and transparent manner, however in this case NSS has determined that there is an even stronger public interest in NSS being able to procure goods and services at the best possible value to the public purse. Therefore, on this occasion NSS has decided that the public interest lies in the withholding of this information resulting in the application of the exemption.
5. How many tonnes of clinical waste did the Trust send to incineration, by year since 2021?
These figures relate solely to NSS.
Total Tunnage by Financial Year:
- 2020/2021: 84
- 2021/2022: 178
- 2022/2023: 152
- 2023/2024: 44
6. Could you please provide data on reported instances where a polyp sample was taken during an endoscopy procedure but was not successfully transferred to the sample collection container? If possible, please include the number of such instances per year since 2021.
Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, NSS does not hold this information.
7. Could you please provide information on the average cost to readmit a patient following an instance where a polyp was taken during an endoscopy procedure but was not successfully transferred to the sample collection container ('lost polyp')?
Under Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, NSS does not hold this information.
In order to obtain the information that you have requested, we suggest that you contact the other NHSScotland Regional Health Boards by using the email addresses listed in the table below, as under the terms of FOISA we are unable to transfer this request on your behalf.
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran - foi@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
- NHS Borders – foi.enquiries@borders.scot.nhs.uk
- NHS Dumfries and Galloway – dg.feedback2@nhs.scot
- NHS Fife – fife.foirequestfife@nhs.scot
- NHS Forth Valley – fv.freedomofinformation@nhs.scot
- NHS Grampian – gram.foi@nhs.scot
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde – foi@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
- NHS Highland – nhsh.foirequestshighland@nhs.scot
- NHS Lanarkshire – foi@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
- NHS Lothian – loth.freedomofinformation@nhs.scot
- NHS Orkney – ORK.FOIrequests@nhs.scot
- NHS Shetland – shet.foi@nhs.scot
- NHS Tayside – tay.foisa@nhs.scot
- NHS Western Isles – wi.infogov-wihb@nhs.scot
I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request, you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.
If you require any further information, please contact the Associate Director Governance and Board Services (Board Secretary) within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.
Contact
Email: nss.foi@nhs.scot
Address
NHS National Services Scotland
Headquarters
Gyle Square
1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.
National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.