| Reference | FOI 2026/1651 |
|---|---|
| Description | The current commissioning costs (tariff, contract price, or agreed unit cost – or indicative price ranges) for abortion services |
| Date Requested | 11/03/2026 |
| Date Replied | 09/04/2026 |
| Category | Contract Management |
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please provide the current commissioning costs (tariff, contract price, or agreed unit cost – or indicative price ranges) in effect as of 1 January 2026 paid by your Integrated Care System for abortion services commissioned from the providers listed below. I am not seeking copies of contracts, commercially confidential clauses, activity volumes, or negotiation details.
Please provide the current standard unit tariff (or, if necessary, a banded price range) paid per procedure for:
MSI Reproductive Choices Bolton Community Treatment Centre
NUPAS Bolton
MSI Reproductive Choices Community Treatment Centre – Manchester Central
MSI Reproductive Choices Regional Treatment Centre – Manchester
NUPAS Manchester
MSI Reproductive Choices Oldham Community Treatment Centre
MSI Reproductive Choices Rochdale Community Treatment Centre
MSI Reproductive Choices Salford Community Treatment Centre
MSI Reproductive Choices Stockport Community Treatment Centre
NUPAS Stockport
MSI Reproductive Choices Ashton-under-Lyne Community Treatment Centre
NUPAS Tameside
BPAS Manchester
BPAS Manchester West
To further reduce any commercial sensitivity issues:
Where prices vary by gestational age, please provide the published or standard gestational tariff bands only (e.g. up to 9+6 weeks, 10–13+6 weeks, etc.).
If provider-specific pricing is considered commercially sensitive, please instead provide the standard tariff framework applied by your ICS for independent-sector abortion providers, indicating whether different providers are paid different rates for the same procedure type.
If exact figures cannot be disclosed, please provide the information in £100 bands or similar ranges.
If you consider any part of this request to engage Section 43, please provide the remainder of the information and explain clearly how the public interest test has been applied.
If clarification would assist in processing this request within the cost limit, I would welcome contact.
NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) has agreed local tariffs with the providers referenced in your request. This information is considered commercially sensitive.
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.
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).
In line with section 16 of the FOI Act please find below a link to the register to assist you.
