A new leader responsible for the integration of health and care in Tameside has been appointed.

Known as a ‘place-based lead for health and care integration’, Sandra Stewart will head up a newly formed Integrated Care Partnership in the borough as part of national changes to the way the NHS and local councils support people’s health and social care.

Sandra Stewart, who is currently Chief Executive at Tameside Council, is one of 10 place-based leads appointed in Greater Manchester as the city region moves towards a fully integrated NHS and social care system from 1 July.

As part of the Health and Care Act 2022, a new statutory NHS organisation is being formed – NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care – at the heart of a wider Integrated Care Partnership involving all the different organisations that support the health and social care of residents across the region.

As part of these arrangements, there will be Integrated Care Partnerships in each of the 10 boroughs, also made up of NHS organisations, the council, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) colleagues and other key partners.

Each partnership will work with the public in their local area, and with the wider system across Greater Manchester, to enable healthier lives and plan and deliver better health and social care services for all.

Mark Fisher, Chief Executive designate of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, who will take up his role officially on 1 July, said: “This is an exciting new era for Greater Manchester and I’m proud to be a part of it. I’d like to welcome the new place-based leads and am looking forward to working with them as they come into post.

“We are all building on a strong history of partnership working, most notably after the devolution of health and social care in 2016, and our priorities to tackle health inequalities and deliver high quality NHS and social care services will remain and be amplified. Our partnerships at a local level will help us to collaborate more closely than ever before and improve the health and wellbeing of all.”

Sandra Stewart, Tameside’s place-based lead for health and care integration, added: “I am delighted to be appointed Tameside’s new leader for health and care. I believe everyone living in Tameside should be supported to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life.

“The Council and CCG have worked together as a single commission across health and care for over five years, energising our services to contribute more effectively towards better prosperity, health and wellbeing. Working alongside the local hospital, we built on the strong voluntary, community and faith sector presence in Tameside to ensure we continually heard the voice of our communities.

“As a single commission we have strived to empower local residents and build community resilience by developing and delivering place based services, early intervention and prevention – keeping people healthy and independent.

“Together with elected members and partners I look forward to continuing to support local people access the right care they need at the right time and place, and ensuring high quality locally based care.”

Place-based leads in each locality will be accountable to both the Integrated Care Board Chief Executive and the relevant local authority via the Locality Board and will oversee delegated resources from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care.

The Locality Board, made up of people from the local authority, the NHS, the voluntary sector and wider partners reflective of each place, will drive local Integrated Care Partnerships at neighbourhood and district level.

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership is the name of the city region’s integrated care system and will replace Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.

The partnership includes NHS organisations, councils, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, VCSE colleagues and others, all working together to support people’s health and care.

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care is the name of the new statutory NHS organisation, which will be live from 1 July 2022. It will be responsible for allocation of, and accounting for, NHS resources.

The organisation will be overseen by an NHS GM Integrated Care Board, which has recently appointed Sir Richard Leese as Chair designate.

All staff currently employed by the 10 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP) and Greater Manchester Shared Services (GMSS) will transfer to NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care on 1 July.

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