FOI 2026/1642

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following information regarding GP access to radiology diagnostic tests within the Greater Manchester health system:

1. Please provide copies of any commissioning policies, service agreements, or formal instructions relating to GP direct access to radiology investigations (including X-ray and other imaging modalities) that were specific to the former Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) prior to its closure in July 2022.
2. Please confirm whether any such Trafford-specific GP radiology ordering arrangements are still in effect under current NHS Greater Manchester commissioning arrangements. If so:
   1. Describe the continuing mechanism (policy or contractual basis) by which these rights remain valid.
   2. Indicate how they differ from the standard GP direct access arrangements across other areas of Greater Manchester.
3. If these historic arrangements have not been retained:
   1. Identify the date on which they were formally retired, superseded, or harmonised into a Greater Manchester-wide policy.
   2. Provide copies of any formal decisions or documentation reflecting that change.

For clarity, I am seeking formal documentation, not summaries or informal guidance.

Please provide the requested information in electronic format.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, in accordance with the Act.

1. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has no record of any specific commissioning policies, service agreements or formal instructions relating to GP direct access to radiology investigations held by Trafford CCG.
2. The mechanism for GP direct access radiology is through the ICE system. This arrangement for Trafford is consistent with other areas of Greater Manchester
3. These arrangements continue the status quo since the introduction of the ICE system. There are not formal decisions or documentation which reflect any change in these arrangements.