Healthcare in Greater Manchester

Healthcare in Greater Manchester refers to the unique "Greater Manchester Model" of NHS healthcare, which is devolved within England and closely integrated with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and local authorities. Led by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, this model took over responsibility for health and social care in the conurbation in July 2022. However, the financial plan for 2022-23 initially faced a shortage of £187 million.

Geographically, the Tameside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) includes Glossop, which is not officially part of Greater Manchester but has been part of the Manchester health economy since 1947. The decision regarding acute surgery in Greater Manchester, made in July 2015 by the 12 CCGs with the support of the 10 local authorities, was explicitly determined by the interests of patients in High Peak, Derbyshire.

Primary and community care in Greater Manchester is supported by 486 general practices, with approximately 3 million registered patients. Notably, Hope Citadel Healthcare in Oldham was recognized as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in 2016. The region also has over 700 community pharmacies.

Out-of-hours services are provided by various organizations, including GO To DOC in Manchester, Tameside, and Oldham; Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in Salford; Bolton NHS Foundation Trust in Bolton; Bardoc in Bury and Rochdale; Mastercall in Stockport and Trafford; and Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Wigan. Community care is provided by hospital trusts in Manchester and Tameside, as well as Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Hospice care is offered by St Ann's Hospice.

In terms of improving access to healthcare, a program that offered over 50,000 additional GP appointments in central Manchester, Bury, and Heywood and Middleton in 2014 resulted in a 3% reduction in accident and emergency activity. This program is set to be expanded across the conurbation. Additionally, an investment of £41 million over four years was announced in February 2017 to ensure access to a GP seven days a week throughout Greater Manchester.

Overall, the Greater Manchester Model of healthcare demonstrates a unique approach to devolved healthcare within England, with close integration between the NHS, local authorities, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.