In April, Greater Manchester become the first local authority in England to take responsibility for health and social care funding from the central government. The MP called for “a comprehensive, independent assessment of the impacts of the Devo Manc health and social care arrangements” to be completed as soon as possible. Known locally as “devo health”, the deal was struck behind closed doors in February 2015 by the Greater Manchester combined authority and the chancellor, George Osborne, who sees Manchester at the heart of his northern powerhouse project. Burnham is currently considering running to be Labour’s candidate for mayor of Greater Manchester. “The fact that the chief executive of health and social care in Greater Manchester will not take up his post until four months after devolved arrangements commenced is a case in point,” she said.

Source: The Guardian May 17, 2016 08:47 UTC