FOI 2026/1639

Communications Between NHS GM and Providers Regarding the Review

Formal correspondence (letters and emails) between NHS GM executive leadership and provider chief executives (GMMH and PCFT) regarding the CMHT review findings and required actions, limited to the period December 2025 to February 2026.

NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has conducted searches for information within the scope of your request.

Section 36 – Prejudice to the Effective Conduct of Public Affairs

The requested information comprises correspondence between NHS GM executive leadership and provider chief executives (GMMH and PCFT) relating to the independent review of Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), commissioned from CPGB Ltd.

This review is currently undergoing final quality assurance and governance consideration. NHS GM and provider organisations remain actively engaged in agreeing findings and developing improvement actions. The correspondence requested reflects ongoing discussions, including early findings, testing of assumptions, clarification of risks, and development of system responses.

The opinion of the NHS GM qualified person—Mr Colin Scales, Acting Chief Executive is that the exemptions at Section 36(2)(b)(i) and (ii) are engaged. This opinion has been reasonably formed following consideration of the requested information and the circumstances at the time of the request.

• Disclosure of this information would, or would be likely to: inhibit the free and frank provision of advice, and
• inhibit the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, and
• otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.

The review remains ongoing, and NHS GM and provider organisations are actively engaged in agreeing findings and developing improvement actions. Disclosure at this stage would be likely to disrupt these live discussions and undermine the effectiveness of the governance and assurance process.

This includes correspondence where leaders are testing assumptions, exploring risk, seeking early clarification from providers, and shaping improvement actions. It is important that senior leaders are able to exchange views candidly during an ongoing and sensitive system review process, particularly where findings may have significant implications for service delivery, organisational accountability and public confidence.

Public interest test (Section 36)

Factors favouring disclosure

• Transparency and accountability
• Public interest in understanding the findings of the CMHT review and actions arising

Factors favouring non-disclosure

• Disclosure would inhibit open discussions between NHS GM and provider chief executives
• Risk of a chilling effect on future system learning and assurance processes
• Potential to divert resources to mitigate misinterpretation of draft material

Balance of public interest
NHS GM considers that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs that in disclosure. There is a strong public interest in ensuring that decisions relating to mental health services are informed by robust, candid and fully considered discussions. Premature disclosure would be likely to undermine this process.

Section 22, Information Intended for Future Publication

The independent review of Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), commissioned from CPGB Ltd, is currently undergoing final quality assurance and governance consideration.   NHS GM intends to publish the final report following completion of these processes.

However, NHS GM does not intend to publish the underlying correspondence between executive leaders and provider chief executives. Therefore, Section 22 has only been considered in relation to information that will be included in the final published report.

Correspondence exchanged between NHS GM executive leadership and provider chief executives (GMMH and PCFT) during the period specified relates directly to:

• early and emerging findings of the draft report
• preliminary system discussions
• deliberations regarding required actions
• governance, assurance and accuracy-checking processes

As these discussions form part of the development and assurance of the final report—and that report is intended for future publication—this correspondence is exempt from disclosure under Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Public interest test (Section 22)

Factors favouring disclosure

• Transparency in decision-making and system learning
• Public interest in understanding the findings of the CMHT review

Factors favouring non-disclosure

• The draft report and related correspondence remain subject to review, validation and approval
• Early disclosure could misrepresent emerging or unconfirmed findings

• Premature release would undermine the integrity of governance, assurance and system learning processes
• Risk of undermining public confidence if unverified findings are released prematurely
• The need to ensure accuracy in matters relating to mental health service provision and patient safety
• The report forms part of system wide improvement planning affecting multiple organisations

Balance of public interest
On balance, NHS GM considers the public interest is better served by withholding this information at this time. The final report will be considered for publication once governance processes have concluded.

Summary

NHS GM acknowledges the significant public interest in the CMHT review and is committed to transparency following completion of governance processes. At this stage, however:

• The correspondence requested is directly linked to a draft report not yet finalised
• Disclosure would prematurely reveal incomplete or unverified information
• Release would inhibit free and frank discussion and prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs

Therefore, the information is exempt under Section 22 and Section 36(2)(b)(i)(ii) of the Freedom of Information Act.

Once the final review has completed governance processes, NHS GM will consider appropriate publication and stakeholder engagement.