| Reference | FOI 2026/1755 |
|---|---|
| Description | Orthodontic waiting list, procurement intent, and private referral spend |
| Date Requested | 11/05/2026 |
| Date Replied | 08/06/2026 |
| Category | Data, Insight & Intelligence |
Freedom of Information request: Orthodontic waiting list, procurement
intent, and private referral spend.
I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information held by NHS Greater Manchester ICB in relation to NHS orthodontic services commissioned by the ICB.
Request 1: The total number of children currently on the waiting list for an NHS orthodontic specialist assessment in Greater Manchester, as at the most recent month-end for which the ICB holds data, broken into the following waiting time bands:
– Under 18 weeks since referral
– 18 weeks to 52 weeks since referral
– 52 weeks to 2 years since referral
– 2 years to 3 years since referral
– 3 years and over since referral
Please specify the date at which the data is current.
Request 2: The longest single waiting time currently recorded against any patient on the orthodontic specialist assessment waiting list in Greater Manchester.
Request 3: Whether the ICB has taken any recorded decision, or holds any approved committee paper, regarding the procurement of additional orthodontic capacity (whether through new contracts, contract variations, or expansion of existing contracts) to address the current waiting list position. If so, please disclose:
– The committee decision date
– The procurement approach approved or under consideration
– The recorded expected publication date of any Find a Tender notice
– The recorded expected go-live date for the additional capacity
Request 4: Total ICB spend in 2024/25 (full financial year) and 2025/26 (year to date) on referring NHS-eligible orthodontic patients to private-sector providers for treatment funded in whole or in part by the ICB. Please disclose:
– Total spend in each financial year
– Named providers receiving such referrals
– Number of patients referred to each provider
– Total UOA equivalent of treatment commissioned through this route
Where information is held in tabular form please provide as a CSV attachment.
If any portion of this request would exceed the section 12 cost limit please contact me to discuss narrowing scope.
Where section 43 (commercial interests) is considered, please apply the public interest test and release non-prejudicial information.
Where any individual contract referenced in this request is held by a sole practitioner whose name is the legal contracting party, please redact the practitioner’s name but disclose the contract number, contract value, and performance data. The contract number is not personal data within the meaning of section 40 of the Act.
For the avoidance of doubt I am requesting the recorded fact, date, and type of any decision or action referred to in this request. I am not requesting the content of correspondence between the ICB and any contractor; section 41 (information provided in confidence) accordingly does not apply to the information requested.
The findings will be published in the UK Orthodontic Intelligence Report.
Request 1:
Primary Care Waiting List:
Secondary Care Waiting List:
Data taken as of 12 May 2026.
The waiting list data is based on the number of referrals currently on the waiting list. There may be a number of duplicate referrals as some changes made by Dental Practices in relation to the clinical needs of a patient generates a new Unique Reference Number (URN) which is not linked to the original referral. Validations of the waiting list are undertaken but it is not possible to provide a total number for individual children on the waiting list.
Request 2:
Primary Care – 277 weeks
Secondary Care – 261 weeks
Request 3:
We have not made any formal requests for procurement of additional orthodontic capacity.
Request 4:
N/A – All referrals are made to Providers who have an NHS Greater Manchester commissioned NHS orthodontic contract.
