Devolution of public services in Manchester led to modest improvement in life expectancy, study shows

A slight improvement in life expectancy has been identified in the Greater Manchester area after devolved public services, including more local control over health and social care, were introduced, a study has found.

Researchers from the University of Manchester found that the Greater Manchester devolution deal appeared to be linked to a positive impact on life expectancy and a narrowing of inequality when comparing local authorities with the worst levels of income deprivation and similarly deprived authorities in the rest of England.

Since 2014, the UK government has devolved powers for the provision of a range of different services to 12 regional governments in England. This has involved establishing a mayoral combined authority and transfer of core powers …