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Northern Ireland Health: Greater Manchester health chief in warning to politicians Northern Ireland health: 'Follow our example' says man leading reform in Greater Manchester
(35 minutes later)
The man overseeing the transformation of health and social care in Greater Manchester has said politicians in Northern Ireland should put their differences aside to achieve similar change.The man overseeing the transformation of health and social care in Greater Manchester has said politicians in Northern Ireland should put their differences aside to achieve similar change.
Last month, Northern Ireland Health Minister Simon Hamilton urged politicians to reach consensus in order for NI to achieve a world class health system.Last month, Northern Ireland Health Minister Simon Hamilton urged politicians to reach consensus in order for NI to achieve a world class health system.
Ian Williamson said the Greater Manchester deal was brokered once politicians put health first.Ian Williamson said the Greater Manchester deal was brokered once politicians put health first.
In April, Greater Manchester will take control of its own £6bn budget from London.In April, Greater Manchester will take control of its own £6bn budget from London.
It is a first for England, with a deal being signed between politicians and health authorities in just 18 months.It is a first for England, with a deal being signed between politicians and health authorities in just 18 months.
The move follows a report by a former Labour health minister, Lord Warner, which likened Manchester's high death rates to a jumbo jet full of passengers crashing into the region every month.The move follows a report by a former Labour health minister, Lord Warner, which likened Manchester's high death rates to a jumbo jet full of passengers crashing into the region every month.
Mr Williamson, the chief officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Devolution, said it had no choice but to take control of its own budget.Mr Williamson, the chief officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Devolution, said it had no choice but to take control of its own budget.
"I think it was knowing that the alternative is worse - knowing that the finances, the service, the health of the population is going in the wrong direction," he said."I think it was knowing that the alternative is worse - knowing that the finances, the service, the health of the population is going in the wrong direction," he said.
"It took politicians and others to be brave enough to take that step to say we are going to do something different, take the risk of doing the right thing for our population, rather than just doing what we have always done," he said."It took politicians and others to be brave enough to take that step to say we are going to do something different, take the risk of doing the right thing for our population, rather than just doing what we have always done," he said.
Labour and Conservative politicians said signing up to a set of principles in advance helped smooth the process, which has included reducing the number of emergency departments from 10 to four.Labour and Conservative politicians said signing up to a set of principles in advance helped smooth the process, which has included reducing the number of emergency departments from 10 to four.