FOI2026/2065

My team are interested in investigating patterns of referrals to and access to complex emotional needs services, including whether these differ by sex or gender. For the purposes of this freedom of information request, by “complex emotional needs services” we mean specialist services designed for people experiencing complex emotional needs, including services described using equivalent terminology, such as complex needs services, personality disorder services, or services established specifically for people diagnosed with, or experiencing difficulties associated with, personality disorder.

The data we are requesting under the Freedom of Information Act are as follows.

For each NHS-commissioned complex emotional needs service, or equivalent service as defined above, in Greater Manchester ICB, please provide the following information separately for each service and for each financial year from 2021/22 onwards:

1. The name of the service.
2. The organisation providing the service.
3. The number of males, including trans males where recorded as male, who were referred to the service.
4. The number of males, including trans males where recorded as male, whose referral was accepted by the service.
5. The number of males, including trans males where recorded as male, who accessed the service.
6. The number of females, including trans females where recorded as female, who were referred to the service.
7. The number of females, including trans females where recorded as female, whose referral was accepted by the service.
8. The number of females, including trans females where recorded as female, who accessed the service.
9. The number of individuals recorded as non-binary who were referred to the service.
10. The number of individuals recorded as non-binary whose referral was accepted by the service.
11. The number of individuals recorded as non-binary who accessed the service.
12. The number of individuals for whom sex or gender was recorded as unknown, not stated, not recorded, or equivalent, who were referred to the service.
13. The number of individuals for whom sex or gender was recorded as unknown, not stated, not recorded, or equivalent, whose referral was accepted by the service.
14. The number of individuals for whom sex or gender was recorded as unknown, not stated, not recorded, or equivalent, who accessed the service.
15. The geographical location of the service, including the county or equivalent geographical area in which it is based.
16. The interventions currently offered by the service.

For the purposes of this request, we provide the following definitions:

“Accepted following referral” means that the referral was accepted by the service for assessment, treatment, or other clinical input.

“Accessed the service” means that, following referral, the individual attended at least one assessment or other clinical contact with the service.

A “clinical contact” means an attended contact with a member of the service for the purpose of assessment, treatment, review or other therapeutic or clinical support. This may take place face-to-face, by telephone or by video call. Administrative contacts, unsuccessful attempts to contact an individual, and appointments that were not attended should not be counted as clinical contacts.

Please note that NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board does not hold the information. Therefore, it will be necessary for you to contact Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust who provide our complex emotional and relational needs services and should be able to provide the details on the number of referrals received/accepted and the gender of the individuals. Please see below Trust contact details: