FOI 2026/1750

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following information regarding ADHD assessments within NHS Greater Manchester ICB.

Adult ADHD Assessments

1. How many adults do you have waiting for an ADHD diagnosis at the moment?
2. How many adults were given an ADHD Assessment in the last year (1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026).
3. If an adult was referred to you now when would you expect them to be seen?
4. Please describe your current Adult ADHD Assessment pathway.
5. Do you have any indicative activity plans in place for Right to Choose ADHD Adult Assessment providers?
6. If yes, to the above, please outline each indicative activity plan (for Adult ADHD Assessment providers) that you have in place. Including the name of the provider and the activity plan they are to adhere to.

Child ADHD Assessments

7. How many children do you have waiting for an ADHD diagnosis at the moment?
8. How many children were given an ADHD Assessment in the last year (1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026).
9. If a child was referred to you now when would you expect them to be seen?
10. Please describe your current Child ADHD Assessment pathway.
11. Do you have any indicative activity plans in place for Right to Choose ADHD Child Assessment providers?
12. If yes, to the above, please outline each indicative activity plan (for Child ADHD Assessment providers) that you have in place. Including the name of the provider and the activity plan they are to adhere to.

1. NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) does not hold the information requested. This would need to be sought directly from the providers. To assist you please find links to their websites below:

2. NHS GM do not hold this information. Providers listed in Q1 would need to be contacted for this information
3. NHS GM do not hold this information. Providers listed in Q1 would need to be contacted for this information
4. NHS GM’s current Adult ADHD Assessment pathway includes referral, assessment, diagnosis and, where clinically appropriate, initiation of treatment and ongoing management. Referrals are typically received via primary care and are triaged in line with locally agreed clinical criteria. Assessments are delivered through a combination of commissioned providers and Right to Choose arrangements.

Following assessment, individuals may receive a diagnosis of ADHD, recommendations for treatment and support, and where appropriate, medication initiation and titration. Ongoing prescribing and shared care arrangements are managed in accordance with local clinical protocols and NHS England guidance. The pathway also includes signposting to wider support services where appropriate.

5. NHS GM has Indicative Activity Plans in place with all known providers
6. The requested information is withheld under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of the organisations involved.

Section 43(2) – Prejudice to Commercial Interests

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)”.

Indicative Activity Plan allocations form part of contractual and operational arrangements between the commissioning body and individual providers. These allocations reflect provider-specific capacity, activity assumptions, and service delivery models.

Public interest test

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 was getting value for money from its purchasing decisions.

Factors favouring non-disclosure.

Disclosure of provider-level allocations would reveal commercially sensitive information relating to operational capacity and market position, which could disadvantage providers in a competitive environment, including in future commissioning and procurement processes.

Releasing this information would prejudice the commercial interests of both the ICB and its commissioned providers by revealing commissioning strategy, negotiating positions, and commercially sensitive data. Protecting commercially sensitive information permits fair and effective commissioning and system management, ensuring that healthcare services are commissioned and delivered effectively

Balancing Test.

After considering the arguments outlined above, we have decided to withhold this information as the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosure as this would likely undermine future contractual and procurement negotiations.

7. NHS GM does not hold the information requested. This would need to be sought directly from the providers. To assist you please find links to their websites below:

8. NHS GM does not hold this information. Please refer to the response to Q7.
9. NHS GM does not hold this information. Please refer to the response to Q7.
10. Pathways are dynamic and bespoke to the child’s presentation, and the Trust offers, again indicative pathways are held by our commissioned services. Please see response to Q8 for providers who will be able to provide more detail
11. NHS GM has Indicative Activity Plans in place with al known providers
12. Please refer to the response to question 6.