RHEUMATOLOGY I write in response to your email ... - NHS Lothian

Dear

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – RHEUMATOLOGY

Date 18/05/09

Your Ref

Our Ref RM/1351

Enquiries to Richard Mutch

Extension 89441

Direct Line 0131-536-9441

Direct Fax 0131-536-9009

Email richard.mutch@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

I write in response to your email request of 6 April 2009 for information in relation to

rheumatologists specialising in Spondular Arthopathies at the Western General Hospital and the

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

I have been provided with information to help answer your request by Ms Marion Redfearn, Clinical

Nurse Manager, Musculoskeletal Service – NHS Lothian.

• Do you have a rheumatologist or rheumatologists who specialise in Spondular Arthropathies

(i.e. Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis)?

There are two specialists within NHS Lothian.

• What is/are their names?

NHS Lothian do not release the details of staff, without the individuals consent. Since we do

not have their consent to release this information, it is considered exempt under section 38 of

the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act i.e. to provide it would breach the 7 th Principle of the

Data Protection Act 1998.

• In the past 12 months, how many patients have you treated with biologics (e.g. Anti TNFs) for:

a. Rheumatoid arthritis and Spondular Arthropathies (i.e. Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic

Arthritis

Regular Injections

Drug Name Number of Patients

Abatercept 5<

Anakinra 5<

Continued

Regular Infusions –Infliximab and Rituximab

Drug Name Number of Patients

IV Infliximab 26

IV Rituximab 89

Deliveries

Headquarters

Deaconess House 148 Pleasance Edinburgh EH8 9RS

Chair Dr Charles J Winstanley

Chief Executive Professor James Barbour O.B.E.

Lothian NHS Board is the common name of Lothian Health Board

---

Drug Name Number of Patients

Enbrel(Etanercept) Not recorded separately

Humira (Adalimumab) Not recorded separately

Total 2286

To protect the identity of the individuals involved any figure of 5 or less has not been shown in the

tables above. Since we do not have their consent to release this data from their records, the

information is exempt under section 38 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act i.e. to provide

it would breach the 7 th Principle of the Data Protection Act 1998.

I hope this information helps with your request.

If you are unhappy with our response to your request, you do have the right to request us to review

it. Your request should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this letter, and we will reply

within 20 working days of receipt. If our decision is unchanged following a review and you remain

dissatisfied with this, you then have the right to make a formal complaint to the Scottish Information

Commissioner.

If you require a review of our decision to be carried out, please write to Mr I Whyte, FOI Reviewer

at the address at the foot of this letter. The review will be undertaken by Mr Whyte as he was not

involved in the original decision making process.

FOI responses (subject to redaction of personal information) may appear on NHS Lothian’s

Freedom of Information website at :- http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/your_rights/foi/foi_09.asp.

Yours sincerely

ALAN BOYTER

Director of Human Resources

and Organisational Development

Cc: Chief Executive