Manchester turns the NHS into the LHS
Manchester takes charge of its local health service
A new era for Greater Manchester has begun with the region becoming the first in the country to take control of its combined health and social care budgets - a sum of more than £6 billion.
It means that - for the first time - council leaders and health bosses will be able to tailor budgets and priorities to meet the needs of local communities and improve the health and wellbeing of the 2.8million residents.
It is being hailed as a unique opportunity to tackle some of the worst health outcomes in the country.
For example, more than two thirds of early deaths in Greater Manchester are caused by behaviours which could be changed, while nearly 25% of the local population have a mental health or wellbeing issue which can affect everything from health to employment, parenting and housing.
Greater Manchester is to receive £450million in additional transformation funding to support developments to the system, outlined in December when we revealed a five-year vision for services across Greater Manchester, underpinned by four key long-term goals:
• Creating a transformed health and social care system which helps many more people stay independent and well and takes better care of those who are ill.
• Aligning our health and social care system far more closely with the wider work around education, skills, work and housing - we spend our £22billion effectively.
• Creating a financially balanced and financially sustainable health and social care system - we spend our £6billion effectively and spend no more than that.
• Making sure all the changes needed to do this are done safely so the NHS and social care continues to support the people of Greater Manchester during the next five years.
PL