“Some are More Open than Others”: Comparing the Impact of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on Local and Central Government in the UK

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 395-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Worthy
Keyword(s):  
Central Government ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Freedom Of Information Act ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

O-106 Non-donor IVF treatment cycles in the UK need to be re-evaluated against the 1.625 million oocytes retrieved

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Bahadur ◽  
R Homburg ◽  
A Govind ◽  
S Acharya ◽  
K Jayaprakasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Retrieval ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Poor Responders ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Freedom Of Information Act ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Study question Are IVF clinics collecting too many oocytes per retrieval procedure? Summary answer IVF cycles performed in the UK appear to be retrieving far too many oocytes, most of which may never be used and are probably discarded. What is known already For justifying IVF with low AMH, older women, poor responders, the Bologna and POSEIDON consensuses were developed. The positive linear correlation between cumulative live birth rates and numbers of oocytes collected is well established, thereby focussing intensely on stimulation regimes and the growth of FER cycles and oocyte freezing activities. The associated risk of OHSS is well-known. However, over-stimulation practices and numbers of oocytes retrieved within IVF remain unknown as is the impact on patients’ health, emotional and financial welfare. This UK dataset uniquely reveals numbers of oocytes retrieved against IVF cycles undertaken, and which may well reflect global practices. Study design, size, duration This is a retrospective observational cohort study of oocyte retrieval procedures for non-donor IVF cycles in the UK between 2015 and 2018. Data were obtained from UK HFEA under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. For fresh oocytes, data were obtained for the number of cycles retrieving 1-5, 6-15, 16-25, 26-49, 50-59, and 60+ oocytes. The number of cycles that led to no oocytes was obtained as well as data on the utilisation of oocytes. Participants/materials, setting, methods The data from the HFEA covers up to 86 UK IVF clinics undertaking non-donor IVF. IVF clinics are legally obliged to provide IVF dataset as part of the licence requirement. The unbiased data was gathered independently by HFEA staff under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Specifically, the number of treatment cycles with; 0, 1-5, 6-15,16-25, 26-49, 50-59, and 60+ oocytes retrieved for each year was requested. Additional limited data could be gained. Main results and the role of chance For 2015-2018 there were 172341 fresh oocyte retrieval cycles, where 10148 (5.9%) cycles from 9439 patients did not yield any oocytes. In this period, 42574 cycles (24.7%), 91797 cycles (53.3%), 23794 cycle (13.8%) and 3970 cycles (2.3%) yielded 1-5 oocytes, 6-15 oocytes, 16-25 oocytes, 26-49 oocytes respectively, while 58 cycle (0.033%) yielded over 50 oocytes. The data was accountable by 5-85 clinics and the outcomes and patterns remained uniform across the 4 years. The main desired oocyte yield of 6-15 oocytes occurred in 53.3% of IVF cycles distributed evenly across the clinics. However, 16.1% of cycles were associated with 16-49 oocytes retrieved per IVF cycle, while 58 (0.03%) cycles led to greater than 50 oocytes retrieved. The maximum number of oocytes collected was not provided by the HFEA due to technical reasons. The total number of oocytes collected over 4-years numbered 1,624,912 oocytes from 147274 women yielding on average 11 oocytes per patient. These oocytes were fertilised to yield 931,265 embryos (57.3% converted). The fate of 42.7% oocytes remains unknown. Of the embryos created, 209,080 (22.4%) were transferred over 172,333 cycles, while 219,563 (23.6%) embryos frozen and the fate of 53.97% of embryos remained unaccounted for. Limitations, reasons for caution This retrospective analysis spans 4 years in which stimulation regimes, patient characteristics, or outcomes were unavailable. Only a qualitative analysis is possible with the HFEA dataset, but the corresponding data is unique and of public interest. The outcome of unaccounted oocytes appears a limitation in the regulatory body data set. Wider implications of the findings This unique observation on IVF clinics practices suggests that the high oocyte number per retrieval procedure needs re-evaluation. In particular, this needs to focus on the side-effects, including OHSS and procedure-related complications. In addition, the outcome and cost of unused frozen oocytes need to be established. Trial registration number not applicable

scholarly journals Trends in orthopaedic antimicrobial prophylaxis in the UK between 2005 and 2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 495-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
RS Aujla ◽  
DJ Bryson ◽  
A Gulihar ◽  
GJ Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Orthopaedic Surgery ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Elective Surgery ◽  
Antimicrobial Prophylaxis ◽  
Trauma Surgery ◽  
Surgical Site Infections ◽  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Freedom Of Information Act ◽  
The Uk

Introduction Antimicrobial prophylaxis remains the most powerful tool used to reduce infection rates in orthopaedics but the choice of antibiotic is complex. The aim of this study was to examine trends in antimicrobial prophylaxis in orthopaedic surgery involving the insertion of metalwork between 2005 and 2011. Methods Two questionnaires (one in 2008 and one in 2011) were sent to all National Health Service trusts in the UK using the Freedom of Information Act. Results In total, 87% of trusts that perform orthopaedic surgery responded. The use of cefuroxime more than halved between 2005 and 2011 from 80% to 36% and 78% to 26% in elective surgery and trauma surgery respectively. Combination therapy with flucloxacillin and gentamicin rose from 1% to 32% in elective and 1% to 34% in trauma surgery. Other increasingly popular regimes include teicoplanin and gentamicin (1% to 10% in elective, 1% to 6% in trauma) and co-amoxiclav (3% to 8% in elective, 4% to 14% in trauma). The majority of changes occurred between 2008 and 2010. Over half (56%) of the trusts stated that Clostridium difficile was the main reason for changing regimes. Conclusions In 2008 a systematic review involving 11,343 participants failed to show a difference in surgical site infections when comparing different antimicrobial prophylaxis regimes in orthopaedic surgery. Concerns over C difficile and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus have influenced antimicrobial regimes in both trauma and elective surgery. Teicoplanin would be an appropriate choice for antimicrobial prophylaxis in both trauma and elective units but this is not reflected in its current level of popularity.

scholarly journals New Labour and New Surveillance: Theoretical and Political Ramifications of CCTV Implementation in the UK

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (2/3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pete Fussey
Keyword(s):  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Local Policy ◽  
Disciplinary Power ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Surveillance Society ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Criminological Theories ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the implications of New Labour's approaches to crime and disorder on CCTV implementation. It concentrates on the usage of CCTV as one of the government's many initiatives, which are intended to address crime and disorder, including the fear of crime. In particular, the impact of the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act (CDA) - the cornerstone of this government's approach to crime reduction - on the generation of such strategies is examined. The paper revisits neo-Marxist and Foucauldian analyses of the so-called surveillance society through an appraisal of the complex relationship between structure and agency in the formulation and implementation of anti-crime and disorder strategies. Drawing on fieldwork data the paper considers the activities of practitioners at a local level by focusing on the influence of central government, local communities and 'common sense' thinking based on certain criminological theories. It is argued that a myriad of micro-level operations, obligations, processes, managerial concerns (particularly conflict resolution and resource issues), structures and agency - as well as the indirect influence of central government - shape CCTV policy. Ultimately, the creation of new local policy contexts under the CDA emphasise the need to consider incremental and malleable processes concerning the formulation of CCTV policy. In turn, this allows a re-examination of theoretical accounts of surveillance, and their attendant assumptions of sovereign or disciplinary power.

31. Parliament and Freedom of Information

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Worthy
Keyword(s):  
Freedom Of Information ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
High Profile ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

This chapter considers the impact of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 on the UK Parliament. Since 2005, FOI 2000 has helped make both the House of Commons and the House of Lords more open and accountable. The most high-profile effect of the law came in 2009, when it played a part in exposing the abuse of the expense allowance system. Despite the scandal, it is not clear whether FOI has transformed the culture of the two Houses. Nevertheless, the law has indirectly sparked a series of other reforms, so that FOI now sits alongside a whole range of instruments intended to make Parliament more open and accessible. The chapter first provides an overview of what FOIs consist of, their application to legislatures and Westminster specifically, before analysing the extent of the impact of FOI 2000 on the UK Parliament.

scholarly journals Commercial property tax in the UK: business rates and rating appeals

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 602-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Michael Greenhalgh ◽  
Kevin Muldoon-Smith ◽  
Sophie Angus
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the introduction of the business rates retention scheme (BRRS) in England which transferred financial liability for backdated appeals to LAs. Under the original scheme, business rates revenue, mandatory relief and liability for successful appeals is spilt 50/50 between central government and local government which both share the rewards of growth and bear the risk of losses. Design/methodology/approach The research adopts a microanalysis approach into researching local government finance, conducting a case study of Leeds, to investigate the impact of appeals liability and reveal disparities in impact, through detailed examination of multiple perspectives in one of the largest cities in the UK. Findings The case study reveals that Leeds, despite having a buoyant commercial economy driven by retail and service sector growth, has been detrimentally impacted by BRRS as backdated appeals have outweighed uplift in business rates income. Fundamentally BRRS is not a “one size fits all” model – it results in winners and losers – which will be exacerbated if local authorities get to keep 100 per cent of their business rates from 2020. Research limitations/implications LAs’ income is more volatile as a consequence of both the rates retention and appeals liability aspects of BRRS and will become more so with the move to 100 per cent retention and liability. Practical implications Such volatility impairs the ability of local authorities to invest in growth at the same time as providing front line services over the medium term – precisely the opposite of what BRRS was intended to do. It also incentivises the construction of new floorspace, which generates risks overbuilding and exacerbating over-supply. Originality/value The research reveals the significant impact of appeals liability on LAs’ business rates revenues which will be compounded with the move to a fiscally neutral business rates system and 100 per cent business rates retention by 2020.

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