Accelerating research into clinical practice

The rising costs of health and social care and slow introduction of innovative solutions are a major frustration to policy-makers and care providers. The obstacles preventing rapid implementation of innovations nationwide include fragmented and slow decisionmaking; structures which do not assist collaboration and co-ordination; lengthy and uncertain routes to adoption; excellent initiatives in one locality that are not shared across systems; and a multiplicity of organisations and initiatives that industry finds confusing and adds to their risk. 

Like all cities and countries, Greater Manchester is facing significant public health challenges. A significant increase in over 65s and 85s is expected (20% and 30% respectively between 2011 and 2021), against a backdrop of rising health and social care costs and a decreasing budget. Patient outcomes across Greater Manchester are currently below national averages against a range of disease and mortality figures, and over the next five years, it faces significant public health challenges. Quite simply, Manchester cannot carry on doing what has previously occurred as its problems will only get bigger. The needs of the community and the problems that exist need to be addressed; things must be done differently, the city must innovate and change. 

However the challenges and barriers to introducing innovation into health and social care services at pace are global issues, not just Manchester’s. Yet empowered by devolution, Greater Manchester is uniquely placed to tackle both of these challenges; it became the first city region in the country to take control of its combined health and social care budgets. Today, two years since the formal devolution, local leaders and NHS clinicians control budgets, decisions are made locally rather than at national level; and for the first time, the power has shifted, bringing a new way to make decisions.