FOI 2026/1633

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following information:

1. Did NHS Greater Manchester ICB ringfence or specifically allocate a £96,000 budget reduction to the Stockport social prescribing service (including Social Prescribing Link Workers / services delivered via the Stockport GP Federation/Viaduct Care CIC)?

If yes, please confirm the financial year and budget line affected.

If no, please confirm this clearly.

2. What was the recorded rationale for applying the £96,000 reduction to this service?

3. What governance process was followed in making this decision (including the committee(s) involved and date of approval)?

4. Please provide copies of any relevant Board or Committee papers, minutes, or decision records relating to this £96,000 reduction.

5. Please confirm whether the ICB undertook, reviewed, or requested an Equality Impact Assessment (including consideration of protected characteristics such as disability) prior to approving any funding reduction affecting Viaduct Care CIC services.”

1. No, a budget reduction was not specifically allocated to the Stockport social prescribing service. However, as part of the requirement to deliver system efficiencies during 2025/26, NHS Greater Manchester ICB (NHS GM) has worked with Viaduct Care to identify areas of service provision that could be repurposed or shrunk where capacity exceeded demand or alternative offers were available.
2. As part of a service review it was identified that delivered activity levels were below that commissioned.
3. This implementation of budgetary adjustments were considered through the Stockport Locality System finance group March 2025 and Stockport Locality Exec board as part of the Cost Improvement Program plan on the 30th April 2025.
4. Stockport Board papers relating to this matter can be accessed: https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-04-30-one-stockport-health-and-care-board-papers.pdf

https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20250617-one-stockport-health-and-care-board.pdf

5. A equality impact assessment was undertaken and reviewed by the Stockport Quality Improvement Collaborative SQIC, including the impact of the service reduction in social prescribing and Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.