Study finds devolution led to health improvements in Greater Manchester

By GM Moving | 30 April 2024 | TAGS: health, Stories

Devolution in Greater Manchester has led to broad improvements in health services, social determinants of health and, subsequently, health outcomes according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Manchester reviewed 98 measures of health system performance to assess the impact of devolution between 2016 and 2020.

Life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and average self-reported life satisfaction score increased more in Greater Manchester compared to the rest of England.

Devolution allows the health care system to take a whole-system approach with researchers finding positive changes inside and outside the immediate health system.

Further devolution could unlock the full range of contributions to good lives, e.g education (0-16yo), welfare, and benefits etc, emphasising the continued need to have health consideration in all local and regional policies.

Researchers suggested changes “may have been driven by closer collaborations between the NHS agencies and local governments”.

Responding to the report, CEO of GM Moving, Hayley Lever, said:

“It’s a good sign to have further evidence that the city region is making positive progress in terms of improving health outcomes since devolution.

“Physical inactivity levels from 2016 to 2019 were reducing at over twice the rate nationally and we know this is a contributing factor to health outcomes.

“We’ve seen continued evolution in how partners from health, physical activity and many other sectors can work successfully together.

“The GM Moving in Action strategy is an invitation to everyone to get involved because it’s only by working collaboratively will we continue to these positive trends.

“GM Moving partners remain committed to testing, learning, and embracing diverse perspectives to tackle inactivity and welcome anyone interested in joining the movement.”

Read a blog from Warren Heppolette, Chief Officer for Strategy & Innovation at NHS GM, on the implementation of devolution and the impact it has had here.

Read the full academic study here.