FOI 2026/1564

I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information regarding NHS-funded operations at independent/private hospitals in Greater Manchester that were cancelled or postponed due to the recent NHS funding changes.

Specifically, I am requesting:

1. The total number of NHS-funded operations at independent/private hospitals in Greater Manchester that were cancelled or postponed between 1 December 2025 and 31 January 2026.
2. A breakdown by hospital and surgical specialty (e.g., orthopaedics, general surgery) of the cancelled or postponed operations.
3. Any internal reports, guidance, or communications used to decide which NHS-funded operations at independent/private hospitals should be paused or cancelled during this period.
4. Patient communication details, including whether patients were contacted in writing, by phone, or in person regarding cancellations.
5. Any estimated or recorded waiting times for patients affected by these cancellations, including both average and maximum waiting times.
6. Any plans or policies in place to reschedule cancelled operations and how these are being communicated to patients.

Background / context

• NHS England recently changed its funding and contract rules for elective care to a fixed allocation model, aiming to ensure resources are used efficiently and fairly while managing growing demand and waiting lists.
• Previously, extra funding was available to support activity above agreed plans; now any activity beyond agreed levels must be managed locally by ICBs, like NHS GM, meaning we can only operate within an allocated budget for elective care.
• This has led to some treatments in independent hospitals in Greater Manchester to be temporarily paused to ensure activity stays within the available resources.

If any element of this request requires clarification or adjustment to comply with the Act, please let me know so I can refine it.

NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does not hold the information requested. Independent Sector (IS) providers were provided with clear activity plans for the year and as with any commissioned provider across Greater Manchester, are obligated to operate within that. Any changes to scheduled/planned elective activity are operational decisions taken by the independent providers themselves.

NHS Greater Manchester is committed to ensuring that patients with the highest clinical need continue to receive timely care.

Where elective activity with an Independent Sector Provider has been temporarily paused or re arranged; this has been managed in line with nationally recognised NHS clinical prioritisation guidance for elective care. Patients categorised as urgent or time-sensitive continue to be prioritised, and individuals at risk of deterioration are identified and reviewed.

Clinical oversight remains with the treating provider. Providers are responsible for ongoing clinical review of their waiting lists and for escalating patients where clinical need changes.

Operational decisions are informed by waiting time data, clinical risk information and available commissioned capacity, with the overarching aim of ensuring patient safety and equitable access to treatment.

in line with section 16 of the FOI Act, please find a link below to the NHS GM website and additional information about care at Independent Hospitals to assist you:

https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/keep-well/information-for-patients-about-delays-to-nhs-funded-care-at-independent-hospitals/