Greater Manchester health leadership strengthened with new combined role

Greater Manchester has taken a major step toward integrated health and social care with the government's announcement of a new dual-role position that will combine the NHS Integrated Care Board Chair with the Mayor's Health Commissioner. The move, announced on March 25, 2026, aims to strengthen how health services work alongside wider public services across the city-region.

Mayor Andy Burnham hailed the decision as "a landmark moment in a decade-long journey of health devolution in Greater Manchester." The new role builds on the region's experience as England's first Prevention Demonstrator, where health and care services have been integrated with local government and community partners since 2015.

The announcement comes with evidence to support the approach-a 2022 study published in The Lancet found that healthy life expectancy rose faster in Greater Manchester than other areas following health devolution. Burnham believes the new Health Commissioner position will help the region "pioneer a radical new way of delivering public services" focused on prevention rather than crisis intervention.

Louise Shepherd, Regional Director for NHS England in the North West, emphasized that the role is designed to support closer collaboration across organisations. "Clear leadership and accountability across the system will help ensure services are high quality, financially sustainable and better connected," she said, highlighting the potential for more joined-up care across Greater Manchester's ten boroughs.