Devo-health is happening – but it is likely to happen slowly. It has the potential to help local areas respond to gaps in quality and funding in health and care, but a lack of decentralisation may make it hard for local areas to unlock the potential benefits.
Here, we provide comprehensive overview of the devolution of health policy to date, and the directions it could take in future.
“Over the last few decades, there has been a growing consensus behind the need to decentralise economic, public service and democratic power within England.”
This report presents the evidence for how 'devo-health' could allow integration within and beyond the NHS, and act as a catalyst to much-needed reform. We also put forward our policy recommendations, which set out a framework for the accountability, commissioning, regulation and revenue raising for those regions that we believe should receive devo-health powers.
“If it works, devo-health should not just be the preserve of the leading urban centres within England.”