FOI2026/2068

I am requesting recorded information held by NHS Greater Manchester about the current adult specialist weight management and bariatric surgery pathways available to Manchester residents.

Please provide the following information:

1. Adult Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services

Please provide the current recorded information showing:

1. Whether NHS Greater Manchester currently commissions any adult Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Service for residents of Manchester local authority.
2. The name of each provider currently commissioned to deliver adult Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services.
3. The locality/borough coverage of each provider.
4. Whether each service is currently:
   • open to new referrals;
   • restricted;
   • paused;
   • closed to new referrals;
   • or otherwise unavailable.
5. The current referral criteria for adult Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services.
6. The current GP referral route, including any referral form, referral management process, e-RS pathway, email address, or pathway guidance used by GP practices.
7. Adult Tier 4 / Bariatric Surgery Pathway

Please provide the current recorded information showing:

1. Whether NHS Greater Manchester currently commissions an adult Tier 4 bariatric surgery assessment pathway for Manchester residents.
2. The NHS Trust(s) or provider(s) commissioned to deliver bariatric surgery assessment and/or bariatric surgery for Manchester residents.
3. The current referral criteria for bariatric surgery assessment.
4. The required referral route into bariatric surgery assessment, including whether referral must come via Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services or whether any direct referral route exists.
5. Whether access to bariatric surgery assessment is currently open, restricted, paused, or closed to new referrals.
6. Out-of-area referral / patient choice

Please provide any current recorded policy, pathway, guidance or instruction held by NHS Greater Manchester relating to:

1. Out-of-area referrals for adult Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services.
2. Out-of-area referrals for bariatric surgery assessment.
3. Patient choice / Right to Choose / elective referral choice in relation to adult specialist weight management or bariatric services.
4. GP communications

Please provide any guidance, bulletin, email, pathway update, or communication issued by NHS Greater Manchester to GP practices from 1 July 2024 to the date of this request explaining how to refer adult patients to:

1. Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services;
2. Tier 4 bariatric surgery assessment;
3. out-of-area specialist weight management or bariatric services.

Specialist Weight Management Services:

1. The contract for the Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Service for patients in the Manchester Local Authority ended.  NHS GM is currently exploring options to commission services for patients registered with a GP in the Manchester Locality.  Patients are however able to access Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services via two providers who are currently offering services in GM under Right to Choose.

2. See table 1

3. See table 1

4. See table 1

5. See table 1

6. Referrals are via a referral proforma – please see

Bury, Rochdale, Salford, and Tameside:

Greater Manchester – Morelife UK

Oldham and Stockport:

Managing Weight – ABL Health | A Better Life

Trafford – the requestor will need to approach Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a copy of the most up to date referral form.

Oviva:

Greater Manchester | Oviva UK | Refer patients today

Second Nature:

Greater Manchester Right to Choose referral guidance

Table 1 – Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Provision in GM

Adult Tier 4 Bariatric Surgery

1. Yes
2. Northern Care Alliance
3. Please see GM-Weight-Management-Clinical-Pathway-for-Adults-final-v1.0-.pdf
4. Via a Specialist Tier 3 Provider
5. Referral route is open

Out of Area / patient choice

1. NHS GM does not accept out of area referrals for specialist weight management services however patients in GM are able to access Specialist Weight Management Services from providers outside Greater Manchester who hold a qualifying contract under Right to Choose.
2. Patients registered with a GP in Greater Manchester are able to exercise their choice for bariatric surgery via the DHSC Choice Framework which can be found here NHS Choice Framework – what choices are available to you in your NHS care – GOV.UK
3. NHS GM operates in line with the DHSC Choice Framework NHS Choice Framework – what choices are available to you in your NHS care – GOV.UK
4. Please see link to 1. Recent GP Portal articles in relation to Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services;

; Search :: Greater Manchester Primary Care Portal –> Message to GPs re: Right to Choose Providers of Digital Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services :: Greater Manchester Primary Care Portal

There was no communications issued in relation to Tier 4 bariatric surgery assessment; out-of-area specialist weight management or bariatric services.