Closer ties to speed up care

PATIENTS across Greater Manchester will get access to new treatments and medicines more quickly, thanks to a new devolution deal.

Health Innovation Manchester will see healthcare providers, academics and industry bosses work more closely to speed up treatments.

The partnership, part of the ground-breaking devolution deal which put the region in control of its £6 billion health and social care budget, will harness local and national expertise to develop the infrastructure needed for clinical trials.

Organisations including the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre — a collaboration between the University of Manchester and the NHS — the Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network, the Clinical Research Network, Manchester Science Partnerships and Manchester Growth Company signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the deal.

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, drug and alcohol misuse and obesity remain the region’s most pressing health concerns.

The deal aims to provide better care for patients, thanks to better information sharing between GPs and hospitals and by helping to identify new ways of treating diseases.