South Yorkshire to get first health commissioner

South Yorkshire is set to get its first regional health commissioner as part of a government pilot designed to shift local decision-making out of Whitehall and into regions.

South Yorkshire, alongside Greater Manchester, will become one of the first areas in England to have one appointed, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

Reporting jointly to the health service and local mayors, it said the new leaders would work closely with councils, health providers and community services.

South Yorkshire's mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Devolution gives us the chance to take control of our own future, and tackle those big challenges that people face across South Yorkshire."

The Department of Health and Social Care said the trial was part of the government's plans to tackle health inequalities, end the NHS "postcode lottery" and close health inequality gaps within and between regions.

In a speech earlier, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Coppard knew their regions "better than wonks in Whitehall".

"Their theory of change is that if they had more levers and more control, they'd spend money more wisely and deliver better health outcomes across their regions," he said.

"So, we're going to put that to the test with two new health devolution deals."

Streeting said the new regional health commissioners would become "like deputy mayors for health".

They would work both with himself and with their respective regional mayor, he explained.

They would be expected to support the delivery of three fundamental shifts in a 10-Year Health Plan:

• Hospital to community: moving care closer to home by building more joined-up, person-centred care in local neighbourhoods, easing pressure on hospitals
• Treatment to prevention: shifting the focus towards prevention through public health initiatives, working closely with local authorities, communities and individuals
• Analogue to digital: harnessing the power of technology to transform care delivery and improve the quality of care

• Under the plans, NHS England will appoint a new NHS Integrated Care Board Chair in each area

• That chair will also serve as the mayor's health commissioner

• According to the Department of Health and Social Care, by working closely with councils, health providers and community services, the commissioners will help ensure decisions are made by those who understand their local communities

The Greater Manchester Integrated Board Chair role is now open to applicants, while the South Yorkshire role is being finalised and will be advertised in due course.

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