Greater Manchester assumes local control over NHS budget

The Greater Manchester region has been handed closer local control over its NHS spending as part of the government's wider health and care devolution strategy.

An agreement has been signed with NHS England to bring together health and social care budgets in the region, for a combined sum of six billion pounds. The arrangement will affect 12 NHS clinical commissioning groups, 15 NHS providers and ten local authorities.

The move is intended to allow key NHS spending choices to be made locally and to facilitate joint decision-making on integrated care to support physical, mental and social wellbeing. Efforts will focus more on preventative work in the community.

Coming into effect on April 1st, the change is expected to pave the way for full devolution of health and care services by April 2016.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: "Greater Manchester now has a unique opportunity for innovation and improvement in health and wellbeing. The eyes of the country will now be on what this new partnership can deliver."