FOI 2026/1748

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide your ICB’s current organisational chart, showing all roles down to operational level (not just the Board).

I am particularly interested in the primary care and digital functions. For roles within those two teams, please also provide:

• Job title
• Reporting line
• Post-holder name
• Work email address

If the new post-restructure chart is not yet finalised, please let me know and leave blanks where there is uncertainty about roles.

If the request exceeds the section 12 cost limit, please contact me to narrow the scope rather than refuse it outright.

NHS Greater Manchester does not currently hold a complete organisational chart.

The NHS reform, primarily guided by the UK Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, aims to transform healthcare delivery in England. Further information is available by accessing the link below.

Road to recovery: the government’s 2025 mandate to NHS England – GOV.UK

NHS GM is currently working through a period of complex organisational change and draft structures are considered working documents that are subject to change and contain sensitive and personal information.

Section 36 – Prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs

The Minister responsible for the Freedom of Information in the Department of Health has authorised the senior person in charge of the National Health Service bodies to act as ‘Qualified Persons’ and under Section 5 of the National Health Service Act 1977 this is the Chief Executive. Under the Section 36 exemption, the ‘qualified person’ for NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) is Professor Colin Scales, Acting Chief Executive.

Professor Scales is of the opinion that the information should be withheld as he considers that it would, or would be likely to prejudice, the effective conduct of public affairs.

Disclosure of the copies of working documents relating to staffing structures, 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.

Public Interest Test

Factors favouring disclosure.

Openness and transparency: It is important that NHS GM acknowledges their responsibility to be open, transparent and accountable to the population it serves.

Factors favouring non-disclosure.

NHS GM consider sharing the information requested would inhibit advice, views and openness between decision makers. This can create a chilling effect and would be likely to affect a fair and objective selection process.

NHS GM argues it is important for staff to be able to discuss matters formally but freely and frankly to ensure that issues are fully debated, and final decisions are robust such as when exploring suitable alternative employment opportunities for affected employees to minimise job losses.

NHS GM maintain that it is important that some matters discussed in private discussions remain private to protect confidentiality and ensure fair treatment.

Balancing Test.

NHS GM has carefully considered whether the requested information could be disclosed in a redacted or partial form. However, meaningful disclosure would not be possible without undermining the protected interests. Redaction would leave the remaining material fragmentary and misleading.

It is critical that NHS GM maintain the greatest possible confidence without any concern that confidential or sensitive information provided, consulted, or relied on may be compromised.

Therefore, It is the decision of NHS GM that the public interest at this time lies in non-disclosure of the draft working documents for the reasons outlined above. NHS GM consider that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure at this time.