FOI-03485

__Request__

_Please can you provide HC2 certificate counts by asylum-seeker status where the asylum seeker resides in or has used services within the Bracknell Forest Borough Council area. If you do not have details for the borough, please provide this information based on all NHS facilities and services (trusts, dentists, doctors, mental health, etc.) where the NHS service coverage encompasses any part of the Bracknell Forest Borough Council area._ 

_If you have volume of appointments made, please detail these in date order by type of appointment (doctor, dental, optical, hospital, etc.) and the average cost to the NHS for that type of appointment, starting January 1st 2024 to present day._

On the 4 January 2026 you clarified the following: 

_Thank you for coming back to me so quickly. I have attached an excel sheet, and the postcodes are listed in the 'Active Postcodes' sheet._ 

_I look forward to receiving the answer to my request._

__Response__

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds some of the information you have requested. 

Between 01/01/2024 and 31/12/2025 there are 14 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) HC2 certificates issued in the Bracknell Forest Borough Council area.  

With regard to your request for information showing where HC2 certificates have been used, the types of appointments attended, and the value claimed or cost to the NHS, this information is not held by the NHSBSA. 

HC2 certificates confirm an individual’s entitlement to help with health costs but do not record where or when services are accessed, nor do they capture details of appointments, treatments received, or the monetary value of any claims made by healthcare providers. 

The NHSBSA administers the NHS Low Income Scheme on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We do not set the eligibility criteria for the scheme. 

__Data Queries__ 

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data. 

__Reusing the data and copyright__

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2026”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence. 

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information. 

Tags: HC2, asylum seekers, low income scheme
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log