FOI2026/1908

1. Community Dermatology Service Provision
2. Does your ICB currently commission a community dermatology service? If yes, please provide:
3. The name of the provider(s) –
4. Contract start and end dates –
5. Whether the service is consultant-led or GPwER-led –
6. The procurement route used (e.g. competitive tender, direct award).-
7. Whether the service is block, activity, cost-and-volume or other. –
8. Contract Value

Please provide the annual contract value (or most recent annual expenditure) for all community dermatology services commissioned by the ICB. –

3. Independent Sector and Patient Choice Providers

Which independent providers are currently available to patients through the NHS e-Referral Service (Patient Choice) for dermatology services within your ICB area? Please provide provider names and service types where available.

4. Activity and Referral Volumes

       For the most recent complete financial year, please provide:

a. Number of referrals to commissioned community dermatology services

b. Number of referrals made under Patient Choice to independent dermatology providers.

5. Future Procurement Plans

Are there any planned procurements, recommissioning exercises, contract extensions, or market engagement activities relating to community dermatology services within the next 24 months? If yes, please provide details and expected timelines. 

1a. There are community dermatology services in the following Greater Manchester (GM) localities: Wigan, Trafford, Tameside, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale.

1b. Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), HealthHarmonie and About Health deliver community dermatology services.

1c. The contract with WWL will end on 31^st March 2027.

Contracts with our other providers are currently still in negotiation and therefore details cannot be shared at this time.

1d. Neither, all of these services are led by Clinical Dermatology Specialists.

1e. The contract with WWL was awarded under a direct award process A (PSR).

The other two contracts are currently operating under implied contractual arrangements. Contracts with these providers are still in negotiation and therefore details cannot be shared at this time.

1f. The contract with WWL is activity based.

The other two contracts are currently operating under implied contractual arrangements which are activity based. 

2. The most recent annual expenditure, for the 2025/26 financial year was as follows. Please note the difference in providers listed, who no-longer hold a contract within the 2026/27 financial year.

3. There are two independent sector providers of community dermatology services, being Healthharmonie and About Health. However, neither are commissioned to deliver services through the NHS e-Referral Service (Patient Choice).

4a. Utilising patient pathways as a proxy for referrals, in the financial year 2025/26 the number was 78,723.

4b. The answer to this question is 0. Please refer to the explanation provided within the answer to question 3.

5. NHS Greater Manchester is currently undertaking a procurement process for a Greater Manchester Tier 3 Community Dermatology Service. The new contract will deliver community-based dermatology services across all Greater Manchester localities, with the ambition of mobilising the service and commencing delivery from 1^st April 2027.