News / Ground-breaking Manchester partnership a significant step towards integrated care

Details of the initiative were scant as Healthcare Finance went to press, but the region’s 10 local authorities, 12 clinical
commissioning groups, 15 NHS providers, NHS England and the government have signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing
to devolve decisions to the local bodies.

It is understood they could pool a budget of £6bn. This would include primary, acute, community, mental health, specialised, public health and social care spending and potentially health education and research. It could be overseen by a new statutory body from April 2016, sitting above a joint commissioning board made up of CCGs, NHS England and councils.

Last November, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and chancellor George Osborne agreed a devolution deal, giving the authority new powers and devolved budgets on issues such as transport and housing.

Subsequently, NHS England invited the GMCA, Greater Manchester CCGs and NHS providers to develop a plan for integrating health and social care. They said their plan would help deliver the Five-year forward view reforms.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: ‘Strong and aligned local leadership in Greater Manchester means now is the time for courage and bold moves to deliver the ambitious agenda set out in the Five-year forward view.

‘NHS England is working on this ground- breaking offer to the local NHS in Greater Manchester and elected local authorities because we want to back local leaders and communities who come together to improve the health and care of their residents and patients.’

Mr Osborne added that it was an exciting, landmark agreement. ‘I believe it will lead to better, much more joined up healthcare,’ he said.

The news was significant, according to?King’s Fund assistant policy director Richard Humphries. ‘If implemented effectively, this could be a step towards a big prize – a single, seamless health and social care system delivering integrated care for people in Greater Manchester,’ he said. ‘It also provides an opportunity for councils and the NHS to work together to improve?health and wellbeing in the region.’

However, more detail was needed, he added, especially on governance, and it was unlikely many other areas were in a position to follow Manchester’s lead.