NHS Business Services Authority

The complainant has requested information on NHS penalty charges for prescriptions, specifically a document showing the criteria for whether a person acted wrongfully or if there was an exceptional reason. NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) disclosed its NHS Prescription & Penalty Charge Guide with some information redacted on the basis of section 31(1)(a) and 36(2)(c) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that NHS BSA has correctly applied section 31(1)(a) to withhold information from the Penalty Charge Guide and that the balance of the public interest favours maintaining the exemption. She therefore does not require NHS BSA to take any steps.