FOI 2026/1560

Questions:

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please provide the following information in relation to the commissioning of contraception services within your Integrated Care Board area:

1. Current commissioning specifications or guidance governing the provision of contraception services, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), by sexual health clinics.
2. Whether funding for contraception services is restricted to pregnancy prevention, or whether provision for non-contraceptive medical purposes (including management of dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, endometriosis or cycle regulation) is explicitly included.
3. Any guidance issued by the ICB to sexual health providers regarding eligibility for IUD/coil fitting where contraception is not required for pregnancy prevention.
4. Any differences in commissioning arrangements for contraception services between sexual health clinics, GP services and gynaecology services.

Request for Clarity 27 January 2026:

I write in response to your Freedom of Information request received by NHS Greater Manchester on 19 January 2026.

I would like to explain that I have shared you request for information with the relevant colleagues, and to ensure we are able to provide you with the correct information, I would be grateful if you could you provide the following clarity:

Question 2 –colleagues have advised that NHS Greater Manchester does not commission contraception services, but they may be included as part of what we commission from secondary care for some conditions, therefore, please can you provide more detail about the information that you would like to receive for question 2.

Please can I ask that you provide the clarity requested as soon as possible to ensure we are able to respond to you within the 20-working day deadline.

Response to Request for Clarity 30/01/2026:

In terms of question 2, I’m not necessarily looking for confirmation that NHS Greater Manchester commissions standalone contraception services through sexual health clinics. Instead, I’m looking for information about whether, within NHS Greater Manchester’s commissioning responsibilities, funding or provision for IUD/coil fitting for non-contraceptive medical purposes (such as management of gynaecological conditions) is included within any commissioned secondary care, community gynaecology, or related services.

I’m particularly looking for:

• whether non-contraceptive IUD/coil provision is commissioned as part of treatment pathways for gynaecological conditions, and
• where responsibility sits for patients who are not eligible for contraception services due to lack of pregnancy risk.

If NHS Greater Manchester holds no information on this, confirmation of that would also be helpful.

1. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does not hold the information requested. The Local Authority Public Health Teams are the responsible commissioners for these services. In line with section 16 of the FOI Act 2000, and our duty to provide advice and assistance; please find below links to the 10 Local Authority websites and information about how to make a Freedom of Information request.

Bolton Council Freedom of Information – Bolton Council

Bury Council Freedom of Information request – Bury Council

Rochdale Borough Council About Freedom of Information requests | Freedom of Information request | Rochdale Borough Council

Manchester Council Freedom of Information | Freedom of Information | Manchester City Council

Oldham Council Freedom of information | Freedom of information | Oldham Council

Salford Council Freedom of Information Act•Salford City Council

Stockport Council Freedom of information – Stockport Council

Tameside Council Freedom of Information Act 2000 Access Introduction (tameside.gov.uk)

Trafford Council Freedom of information requests (FOI) | Trafford Council

Wigan Council Freedom of Information (wigan.gov.uk)

2. Thank you for your clarification.

I can confirm that NHS GM does commission non-contraceptive IUD/Coil provision from all NHS Acute Trust as part of their Gynaecology services and has Locality provision in Manchester and Oldham.

3. NHS GM has not issued any guidance on the commissioning of IUD/Coil fitting
4. NHS GM commission all Gynaecology services from our NHS Acute Trusts which includes contraception services. NHS GM does not commission stand-alone contraception services from GP Practices and/or sexual health services. Should you wish to contact the Trusts directly, please find below links to their websites and information about how to make a Freedom of Information request. In line with section 16 of the FOI Act 2000, and our duty to provide advice and assistance.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of information – Bolton NHS FT (boltonft.nhs.uk)

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information Requests :: Northern Care Alliance

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information – Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (mft.nhs.uk)

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information – Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust – Freedom of Information Requests :: Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care (tamesideandglossopicft.nhs.uk)

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | FOI Disclosure Log