Greater Manchester cluster considers plan to halve number of local boards

NHS Greater Manchester is the largest PCT cluster in the country, with 10 PCTs, covering a population of 2.8m and controlling a budget of £4.7bn.

A board paper to be considered this week explains that, because of its size, it is not possible for the cluster to establish one centralised managerial operation “in the first instance” and “the Greater Manchester Cluster’s objectives will operate very largely through continuing locality based managerial teams and arrangements”.

But it warns that the feasibility of maintaining separate locality boards for each of the 10 PCT areas is “at best borderline given the range of vacancies now being carried at senior level”.

The preferred configuration that will be put to the board on 14 July 2011 is five managerial teams comprised as follows:

1. Ashton, Leigh and Wigan
2. Bolton and Salford
3. Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and Oldham
4. Manchester and Trafford
5. Tameside and Stockport

The paper adds: “The inception of the Greater Manchester cluster has come at a time when the economy was already carrying a number of senior position vacancies that had been filled through either interim or acting up arrangements.

“It is likely that the loss of senior staff may accelerate over the remainder of 2011-12 and this has the potential to create a series of unsustainable management teams should the cluster continue with the present configuration.

“This presents a grave risk to the continued delivery of PCT objectives for which the board carries accountability. It is therefore essential that the cluster moves early to secure stable managerial arrangements to manage across the next two years. This will entail consideration of how talents are used to best effect now.”