Manchester plan for 'joined-up' NHS and social care could go national

A ground-breaking plan to devolve the £6bn NHS and social care budget in Greater Manchester to the region’s councils and health bodies could become the model for many parts of England.

The shake-up, expected to be announced on Friday, would break down barriers between hospitals and care in the community to ensure a “joined-up” service for patients. The rising elderly population has put huge pressure on hospitals, which often cannot discharge old people because of a lack of social care provided by cash-strapped local authorities hit by spending cuts.

The Greater Manchester blueprint is part of George Osborne’s vision of a “northern powerhouse”, under which a directly-elected mayor in Greater Manchester will enjoy new powers such as housing and transport from 2017. It could allow the Conservatives to trump Labour’s flagship plan to integrate health and social care. The Chancellor’s growing partnership with the region’s Labour council leaders is embarrassing for the party’s national leadership.

Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, said: “Labour talks about integration but did nothing in 13 years [in power]. Now this Government is doing it for real.”

A new board of health and council officials would oversee the combined budgets of NHS England, 12 GP-led clinical commissioning groups and the social care provided by 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester. The proposed system, which could take two years to bring in, would be similar to the integrated one in Northern Ireland and the one being introduced in Scotland.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/manchester-plan-for-joinedup-nhs-and-social-care-could-go-national-10070450.html