FOI 2026/1556

I am submitting a Freedom of Information request regarding the provision of cardiac diagnostics within primary care settings across the ICB.

12-Lead ECG Provision

1. Does the ICB reimburse PCNs or GP Federations for conducting 12-lead ECGs in primary care?

2. If yes, what reimbursement rate or tariff is paid?

3. Which ECG device suppliers or service providers are currently commissioned or recommended for use in primary care?

4. Where applicable, what is the cost per device or service charged by these suppliers to the ICB?

Holter Monitoring Provision

5. Does the ICB reimburse PCNs or GP Federations for delivering Holter monitoring in primary care?

6. If yes, what reimbursement rate or tariff applies?

7. Who are the current suppliers or outsourced providers used for Holter monitoring?

8. What is the unit cost or service fee paid to these providers?

If any of the above differs by PCN, Federation or locality within the ICB footprint, please provide this detail where available.

12-Lead ECG Provision

1. No
2. N/A
3. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has a contract with Broomwell Ltd (inc Broome and Wellington) to lease devices for use in primary care settings in all Greater Manchester localities, except Oldham where ECG services are provided by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust as part of their wider contract.
4. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) holds the information requested, however; we are unable to provide the cost per device or service charged by these suppliers to the ICB in response to this request. This is because these data are integral to the contracts and are considered commercially sensitive to both NHS GM and the provider/s concerned.

As such, the information is exempt from disclosure under section 43(2) (commercial interests) of the Freedom of Information Act.

Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 states:

“Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it)”.

Factors favouring disclosure.

There is an inherent public interest in ensuring that there is openness and transparency in the spending of public money. Transparency is likely to increase confidence in procurement processes and the purchasing decisions made by NHS GM. It also enables the public to understand whether NHS GM is getting value for money from its purchasing decisions.

Factors favouring non-disclosure.

However, we believe that disclosure of cost per device or service charged by the suppliers to the ICB in response to this request would likely prejudice the current or future negotiating capabilities of NHS GM particularly in relation to future commissioning, negotiation and value-for-money considerations.

Balancing Test.

After considering the arguments outlined above, we have decided to withhold this information.

While we recognise the importance of transparency in relation to NHS commissioning arrangements, this is met through the publication of the contract register and summary details rather than the disclosure of full contractual documents.

To support transparency, the following information is available on our contract register (which is available via the NHS GM publication scheme “lists and registers” on our website).

• The name of the provider
• The service area or specialty commissioned
• The contract start and end dates
• The Contract Value
• Confirmation that the contract is based on the NHS Standard Contract

In line with section 16 of the FOI Act please find below a link to the register to assist you.

nhsgm-conreg-feb-25-final.pdf

Holter Monitoring Provision

5. No
6. N/A
7. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has a contract with Broomwell Ltd (inc Broome and Wellington) to lease devices for use in primary care settings in all Greater Manchester localities, except Oldham where ECG services are provided by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust as part of their wider contract.
8. Please refer to the response to question 4.