Greater Manchester to trial more joined-up approach to healthcare under new devolution deal

Greater Manchester is set to trial a more joined-up approach to healthcare that focuses more on preventative support under enhanced devolution of health services.

Under the plans, NHS England will appoint a new NHS Integrated Care Board Chair for two regions, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, who will also serve as the Health Commissioner for combined authority mayors. Reporting jointly to the health service and local mayors, these new leaders will be tasked with driving improvements that directly improve people’s health. Commissioners will help ensure decisions are made by those who understand their local communities, improving coordination and making services more responsive to local needs.

The trial seeks to explore how local devolution can tackle health inequalities, and close gaps within and between regions.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“This is a landmark moment in a decade-long journey of health devolution in Greater Manchester. We’ve built a strong model of partnership working across the NHS, local government, our voluntary and faith sectors, and community parters – all focused on improving health for our residents.

“The Secretary of State has recognised those efforts, and we thank him for the action he is taking today.

“A study published in The Lancet in 2022 found that, following the devolution of health and care, healthy life expectancy rose faster in Greater Manchester than other areas before the pandemic.

“Now we have the potential to get back on track and go even further, creating the right conditions for everyone to live healthier lives. A Health Commissioner will help us pioneer a radical new way of delivering public services that’s better for our communities and better for the public purse.

“We’re working with Government on making Greater Manchester the blueprint for prevention. For too long our public services have been trapped in short-term cycles of costly crisis intervention. We want to show that investing in early help is a more effective way of spending public money – providing support to improve people’s lives and prevent them falling into crisis in the first place.”

By appointing new Health Commissioners to the roles, they will work with the mayor, local councils and NHS to drive community-level change and as local leaders will be able to look at a range of local factors that impact people’s health including transport and housing.

They will be expected to support the delivery of the three fundamental shifts in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan:

• Hospital to community: moving care closer to home by building more joined-up, person-centred care in local neighbourhoods, easing pressure on hospitals
• Treatment to prevention: shifting the focus towards prevention through public health initiatives, working closely with local authorities, communities and individuals
• Analogue to digital: harnessing the power of technology to transform care delivery and improve the quality of care

The Greater Manchester Integrated Board Chair role is now open to applicants. The South Yorkshire role is being finalised and will be advertised in due course.