The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership Board met on Friday 29 May 2026 to discuss a range of significant health and care initiatives. Key topics included updates on the NHS GM Integrated Care Partnership Strategy, the ongoing transition from reform to delivery within NHS Greater Manchester, and progress on the GM Health and Care Anti Racism Programme. The Board was also scheduled to consider the 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' Schools White Paper and its implications for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms.

NHS GM Integrated Care Partnership Strategy Meeting Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the NHS GM Integrated Care Partnership Strategy meetings. These meetings, co-chaired by Councillor Thomas Robinson and Edna Robinson, serve as a forum for members to shape and focus discussions before they are presented to the main Board. The report indicated that these strategy meetings had previously addressed key areas such as dementia, anti-racism, and suicide prevention, with members advising on the need to address variations in dementia support and strengthen reporting mechanisms for racist incidents.

NHS GM: From Reform to Delivery

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on NHS Greater Manchester's transition from organisational reform to system delivery. The report, presented by Charlotte Bailey, Chief Strategy, People and Partnerships Officer at NHS GM, detailed the progress made following a substantial period of organisational reform, which included a reduction in operating costs and staff numbers. The report highlighted that despite these changes, NHS GM had seen improvements in system performance against national standards. It also outlined the development of a five-year Strategic Commissioning Plan, intended to translate shared Greater Manchester ambitions into clearer priorities and investment decisions. The report acknowledged material risks to delivery, including reduced organisational capacity and system-wide resource pressures, and suggested that deeper integration of health, care, and public services through devolution offered the best opportunity to address these challenges.

GM Health and Care Anti Racism Programme Update

An update was provided on the GM Health and Care Anti Racism Programme, building on the No Space for Racism campaign launched in March 2026. The report, presented by Evelyn Asante-Mensah, Independent Chair of the NHS North West Race Equity Assembly, Claudette Elliot, Chair of Pennine Care Foundation Trust, Majid Hussain, Director of Equality and Inclusion at NHS GM, Eve Holt, Head of Policy and Implementation at GMCA, and Charlotte Bailey, Chief People Officer at NHS GM, detailed progress in embedding the campaign into sustained system change. The programme consists of three workstreams: the public-facing communications campaign, health and care sector actions led by NHS GM, and wider system alignment coordinated with GMCA. The report noted the launch of a new public-facing film as part of phase 2 of the campaign, aiming to build empathy and understanding of the experiences of racism faced by health and care staff. The report also outlined sector actions, including strengthening reporting mechanisms for racist incidents and embedding anti-racism expectations into leadership development.

'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' - Schools White Paper and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Reforms

The Board was scheduled to consider the implications of the 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' Schools White Paper and the associated Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms. The report, presented by Katherine Sheerin, Chief Commissioning Officer and Executive Lead for SEND at NHS Greater Manchester, provided an overview of SEND delivery across Greater Manchester and outlined the emerging response to the national reforms. The report explained that the Schools White Paper aims to raise standards and inclusion, ensure earlier and better support for children with SEND and disadvantage, and strengthen mainstream capacity. It detailed the proposed timescales for implementation, the significant funding allocated to the reforms, and the requirements for Local Area Reform Plans (LARPs). A key element discussed was the Experts at Hand (EAH) offer, a national programme designed to strengthen mainstream education settings' capability to meet SEND needs, with funding allocated to local authorities to develop this offer in partnership with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The report also highlighted the challenges related to timescales and workforce requirements for implementing these reforms.