Greater Manchester is to become the first English region to get full control of its health spending as part of the agreement to devolve more powers to local areas. The budgets for health and social care will be integrated into one £6bn pot, which will be controlled by the local councils that make up Greater Manchester and local health groups from 2016, and ultimately the newly elected mayor following the election in 2017.
This could be the biggest transformation in health and care provision since 1948 and there has been concern expressed already about the NHS no longer being a national provider. It will be vitally important that what is offered in Greater Manchester remains a free at point of need health service and is therefore funded appropriately and that social care does not stay as the poor relation. Anyone involved in care either professionally or through personal experience knows that we are facing a crisis in provision and whilst the current plans are for improvements is this really likely given we have an ageing population and the worst austerity measures since the 1930’s.
We will keep you informed as developments occur.