FOI 2026/1635

I am submitting this request, on behalf of myself, under the Freedom of Information Act and the Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS.

1. Please provide a list of all providers the ICB holds contracts with for gynaecology services (covering any form of Obstetrics or gynaecology services)

Please include both statutory NHS and Independent Sector providers

Please include any broader services that include a Obstetrics or gynaecology element

2. For each contracted provider listed in the answer to #1, please provide the following schedules as included in the contract the ICB holds:

Schedule 2A or equivalent: Service Specification that describes the service (whether standalone or integrated in a broader Service Specification)

Schedule 3A, 3B or 3C or equivalents: Describing national currencies and any local prices that apply to the services

Please provide any embedded files in a format that can be opened.

NHS Trust providers

Independent Sector providers

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 disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the providers and the negotiating capabilities of NHS GM, particularly in relation to current ongoing negotiations, future commissioning, negotiation and value-for-money considerations.

• If a competitor charges a higher price, it would be to NHS GM’s commercial detriment, as it would risk upward pressure on prices
• If a competitor charges a lower price, it would be to that provider’s detriment, as that might causes market prices to lower to reduce their market share (and therefore revenue).

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

Names of individuals have been removed from the documents attached because this information is exempt from disclosure under section 40 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as it constitutes personal data where disclosure would be in breach of the Data Protection Act 2018.

As section 40 (2) is an absolute exemption there is no duty to consider disclosure in the public interest. They are set out in Part II of the Freedom of Information Act 2000

**PDF documents were sent to the requester with this response.  If you require a copy of the full response, together with the attachments, please contact NHS GM’s FOI team – nhsgm.foi@nhs.net **