2026/2063

You confirm NHS Greater Manchester has not implemented TA1152 within the statutory 90-day period ending 5 August 2026. However, you have not identified any statutory provision, regulation, direction, or legal authority that permits or justifies this delay.

As NICE has confirmed to me no extension, exemption, or variation was granted for TA1152, and as internal governance processes do not override statutory duties under the National Health Service Act 2006, please state:

1. What specific legal authority permits NHS GM to defer implementation beyond the statutory deadline?
2. By what date will TA1152 be fully implemented and available to eligible patients?

What steps are being taken to ensure no patient is disadvantaged by this delay?

1. NHS Greater Manchester recognises the requirement to make funding available for treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisals within the implementation period specified by NICE. For TA1152, no extension or exemption from that period was sought or granted, and NHS Greater Manchester acknowledges that the requirement was not met within the specified timeframe. TA1152 followed the ICB’s usual implementation process, including assessment of patient numbers, service capacity, financial impact and system risks, and work with clinicians, providers and other relevant teams to develop prescribing arrangements across care settings. These steps reflect the ICB’s responsibilities for safe, effective and sustainable service delivery. NHS Greater Manchester is not relying on a specific legal authority as a basis for the implementation timeframe. The ICB is reviewing its medicines governance arrangements to identify changes that will support timely implementation of NICE guidance alongside its wider statutory responsibilities.

2. Consultation on the proposed Greater Manchester prescribing arrangements has concluded. The proposal for semaglutide to be classified as Green (specialist initiation) has been supported by the Greater Manchester Medicines Management Group and the NHS Greater Manchester Clinical Effectiveness Group. Final approval has been confirmed from the Strategic Commissioning Committee in early October. Therefore TA1152 will be adopted onto the Greater Manchester formulary to reflect this outcome, and semaglutide will be available to eligible patients in accordance with the recommendations and conditions set out in TA1152.

3. The consultation and governance process aims to support consistent prescribing arrangements across Greater Manchester. As part of this process, NHS Greater Manchester considers whether the proposed arrangements could disadvantage any patient groups. No separate interim access route has been established for people meeting the TA1152 eligibility criteria while the prescribing and governance arrangements are being completed.