FOI 2026/1686

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the provision of the NOUS ultrasound service across Greater Manchester.

For context, the service is referenced here:

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk%2FNotice%2Fdef8bc9d-dd34-4ba0-9aca-e631af167642&data=05%7C02%7Cnhsgm.foi%40nhs.net%7Ce2dd530f6a7d4d69739408de90cf66af%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C1%7C639107417630581182%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nowSYmHkiMN7Dley73pBfOrt%2BDlLp7YsRjXEVFvkbgk%3D&reserved=0

I would be grateful if you could provide the following information for the most recent 12-month period available:

1. The number of providers currently commissioned to deliver the service across Greater Manchester
2. The total number of referrals received, with a breakdown by provider where held
3. The total number of complaints received, with a breakdown by provider where held
4. The average waiting time from referral to appointment, with a breakdown by provider where held

In addition, if available:

5. Any performance standards, KPIs, or targets relating to waiting times or service delivery
6. Any summary performance or benchmarking information used to monitor the service

This request is made in the public interest to better understand patient access to diagnostic services and overall service performance across Greater Manchester.

1.

2.

3. Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, 6 complaints were received by NHS Greater Manchester about ultrasound services. Our records do not define, however, if these were specifically about the provision of NOUS ultrasound services as the available coding within our database reflects ultrasound services. The 6 complaints received related to the following commissioned providers:

Physiological Measurements Ltd <5

Beacon Medical Services <5

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust <5

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust <5

Provider unknown <5

Please note – NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does hold the information requested however, due to the low numbers involved (where patient data is 5 or less <5) we consider this to be exempt under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as the disclosure of this information may lead to the identification of individuals. This exemption is not subject to the public interest test.

4. This is published data. The average wait time is 2.7 weeks nationally. The median waits and wait times can be found here Statistics » Monthly Diagnostics Data 2025-26

5.**A excel document was 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 **

6. These services are monitored within the DM01 6-week KPI metric. For 2025/26 the target was 5% to be over 6 weeks (meaning 95% needed to be within 6 weeks) and in 2026/27 this is moving to 2% (meaning 98% needed to be within 6 weeks). Test and provider breakdown/benchmarking is publicly available on the NHS England website. To assist you please find a link below (there is a provider by test tab within the spreadsheet).

Statistics » Monthly Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity