On the road to changing Manchester's health - Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership gives its six month review

Greater Manchester has been the lead in setting up the NHS’s first devolved Health and Social Care Partnership.

NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group is one of 10 localities which formed the devolution in April and took charge of £6 billion to spend on the region.

In the past six months, the partnership reported some improvements, but areas of urgent care and referral to treatment still had a way to go.

Around 94.5 per cent of patients were waiting 18 weeks or fewer before getting treatment following a referral but that has now fallen to the national average of around 92 per cent of patients.

The report read: "This is an area where Greater Manchester has consistently performed above national standards in the past. But more recently we’ve noted some deterioration in performance that needs to be addressed.

We’re aware that a number of providers have experienced additional pressures due to increased demand for diagnostics, in particular endoscopy, but our task is to use our collective responsibility to ensure that providers are supporting one another when the pressure is on."

Another area struggling is the delivery of urgent care within the four-hour mark.

While the report noted that this was a challenge on both a national and local level, nationally 96 per cent of patients were getting treatment within four hours while in Greater Manchester it was just below 90 per cent in September.

Areas of improvement include mental health, where Greater Manchester has achieved the target for 75 per cent of people beginning treatment within six weeks for the first time.

Delayed transfer of care has also risen to above national standard and Greater Manchester is one of the most improved areas in England in terms of survival rates for cancer, with 69.8 per cent of people with cancer surviving at least a year against a national average of 70.2 per cent.

Dementia diagnosis rate were also above the national standard.

In Bolton problems with urgent care are being tackled with the role of of a new A&E scheme where a GP will be situated in the department to handle non-urgent treatment.

A Locality Plan will also see a number of changes being rolled out over five years.

Dr Wirin Bhatiani, chair of Bolton CCG, said: "The last six months have seen exciting changes in Greater Manchester and, of course, closer to home in Bolton. The devolution of health and care provides an opportunity to do things differently and change the way our local services operate.

"Bolton CCG is working in partnership with Bolton Council, healthcare providers, and our community and voluntary sector partners to make our ambitious plans a reality.

"In Bolton, this means focusing on those with the greatest need for extra help and support to stay healthy and independent. We want to offer more support to those at risk of health problems, before they become ill."

Over the next year the partnership has plans including commissioning a comprehensive, independent review of mental health provision; a £140m financial contribution to deliver improvements to the care of patients in hospital; and launching a ‘patients’ own drugs’ campaign to reduce wastage.

Greater Manchester has also been selected as a fast-track area to reshape services for people with learning disabilities and autism.

In January, Bolton will learn if it will receive £49.8m in funding from the Greater Manchester Transformation Fund, set up to provide clinical and financial sustainability in the localities.

Deputy leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, added: "Since GM took charge of its own £6 billion budget for health and social care, partners in Bolton have been strengthening relationships and finalising the Locality Plan in preparation for the borough receiving its allocation of funding.

"Our focus is on helping people to stay healthier for longer, in their own homes, and preventing those most at risk from developing an illness later in life with an emphasis on integrated services.

"This year we have seen the successful reopening of the Winifred Kettle Centre in Westhoughton, which brings together integrated health, social care and treatment clinics under one roof.

"Another priority for GM is to make the region the best place to live for people with dementia. We have worked with businesses in Horwich to create the borough's first dementia friendly community, and launched the Dementia Action Alliance to encourage more organisations to support dementia friendly initiatives."