On Friday, we are almost certain to hear that, in line with the election of the Manchester Mayor in 2017, Manchester City Council and the 10 AGMA Authorities will take control of the NHS Budget for the Greater Manchester area.

The health provision and budget is to be amalgamated with the social care provision and budget (already held at local authority level) to provide integrated care across the region.

Whilst there have been much smaller pilots in the UK, this is an absolute game changer – to put it in context this transfer represents around 25% of total public spending across the Greater Manchester footprint.

Money and power go together. The first tangible move towards the devolution of real, accountable power to Manchester is under way….