Bolton CCG to disband as Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership created

The CCG ­— which oversees health services for the town's population ­— will be replaced by a Greater Manchester wide board.

The move is in line with the new Health and Care Act 2022 and will change the the way health services are 'bought and planned' for people in Bolton.

Bolton CCG headquarters in Bolton

The new body, the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, say health bosses, aims to improve joined-up care for people who rely on a number of different services at the same time.

This organisation will bring together staff from all 10 Greater Manchester clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – including Bolton – as well as Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and Greater Manchester Shared Services, which will all disband on Friday.

Major 'locality board' overhaul to Bolton health and care services

As part of the shake-up, there will be local board in each of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, bringing together the same partners.

In Bolton it will be called the Bolton Health and Care Partnership. Chairing Bolton’s board will be cabinet member for adult services Cllr Andy Morgan ­— who said priorities will be set locally and 'hallenging services to meet them'.

Dr Niruban Ratnarajah, outgoing chairperson of Bolton CCG, said: “We have achieved a lot over the past nine years and we will ensure this strong legacy is taken into the new NHS organisation and will continue to integrate care locally through our integrated care arrangements.

“Our aim is healthier lives and better health and social care services for all our residents across Bolton and we will work closely with the public in order to do this. The GP practices and primary care networks across our borough will continue to form the cornerstone of local health and care.

Shake-up of health services in Bolton

“Bolton CCG is proud to have overseen Bolton’s hugely successful Covid-19 vaccination programme, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people receive the potentially life-saving jabs.

“It has maintained an “outstanding” rating since 2019, is ending on a sound financial footing and has made a significant contribution to the way we engage with our diverse communities in Bolton.

“We have achieved a lot and we pledge to continue building on this work as we move into this exciting new phase.”

As part of the changes from July 1, users of the CCG's website will be redirected to Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership’s new website. Patients will still be able to access information and help about their local services.

Bolton CCG was formed in 2013, it was led by GPs and clinicians.

Sir Richard Leese, chairperson of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, said: “This is a significant step forward for how we ensure the people we serve across the whole of Greater Manchester get equal access to the best possible health and care services.

“Thanks to the devolution arrangements given to our city region, we have already built a strong foundation of true partnership working and our teams will be no strangers to working together for the benefit of our people.

“Our aims for the next few months will be ensure the integration of our neighbourhood teams, improve mental health services, support our GP practices, ensure people have access to urgent and emergency care, and reduce inequalities.

“These are just some of the things which we in the NHS, and our partners, do to help all of us live the best lives we can.”

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership is one of 42 integrated care systems being established across England on a statutory basis on July 1 following recommendations from NHS England and NHS Improvement and Royal Assent of the Health and Care Act (2022).