FOI 2026/1592

Under the Freedom of Information Act can I please request the following information:

1. Could you clarify the algorithm used by PES (SpOA) to allocate referrals before patient choice due to clinical reasons?

2. What process does PES (SpOA) use to ensure adherence to patient choice regulations?

3. Over the past six months, how many referrals processed by PES (SpOA) have been allocated to ISPs and NHS Trusts? Please provide a breakdown by sub specialty, month and provider.

4. How many referrals have been rejected in the last six months, please provide a breakdown by referrer and reason for rejection?

5. Could you please provide the script used by PES (SpOA) when communicating with patients following a referral?

6. Please could we request sight of any emails between the ICB and PES (SpOA) in relation to referral management, scripts and instructions re waiting times.

1. No algorithm is used.

2. Primary Eyecare Services send patient choice letters or SMS to patients for clinically appropriate adult routine referrals. These communications include a unique patient link that shows them the nearest 10 provider clinics for the sub-speciality that they require referral to. For those patients that cannot make a choice via this method they provide a telephone service where patients can speak to an administrative hub to aid them with this choice. If a patient has a specific reason that they require a choice outside of the 10 provided to them via the link the administrative team can facilitate this request as needed. Patients are sent a minimum of two written communications (either via SMS or letter) with a phone call attempted for those that fail to engage with this process before a referral is closed as failed to engage.

3. Please see attached excel spreadsheet with relevant subspeciality breakdown. A provider breakdown has not been provided as this is considered commercially sensitive information.

4. Between Sept 25 – Jan 26, 365 referrals have been rejected as incorrectly allocated as urgent and requiring emergency referral. 749 referrals were triaged as not requiring secondary care referral and suitable to be retained in primary care. A breakdown by referrer and the reason for rejection has not been included as this is considered sensitive information and could lead to referrers and providers being identified without their consent.

5. Examples of the patient choice script are attached as Q5a – example patient choice letter and Q5b example patient choice text

**A PDF document and example of a text message was sent to the requester as the response to Q5.  Unfortunately, we are unable to upload these onto the website.  If you require a copy of the full response, please contact NHS GM’s FOI team – nhsgm.foi@nhs.net **

6. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has not sent any emails to PES in relation to waiting times as this is not within the remit of the Eye Care Navigation Service.