Deprivation and primary care funding in Greater Manchester after devolution: a cross-sectional analysis

In April 2016 Greater Manchester gained control of its health and social care budget, a devolution that aimed to reduce health inequities both within Greater Manchester and between Greater Manchester and the rest of the country.

To describe the relationship between practice location deprivation and primary care funding and care quality measurements in the first year of Greater Manchester devolution (2016/2017).

Cross-sectional analysis of 472 general practices in Greater Manchester in England.

Financial data for each general practice were linked to the area deprivation of the practice location, as measured by the 2015 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Practices were categorised into five quintiles relative to national deprivation. NHS Payments data and indicators of care quality were compared across social deprivation quintiles.

Practices in areas of greater deprivation did not receive additional funding per registered patient. Practices in less deprived quintiles received higher National Enhanced Services payments from NHS England than practices in the most deprived quintile. A trend was observed towards funding to more deprived practices being supported by Local Enhanced Service payments from clinical commissioning groups, but these represent a small proportion of overall practice income. Practices in less deprived areas had better care quality measurements according to Quality and Outcomes Framework achievement and Care Quality Commission ratings.

Following devolution, primary care practices in Greater Manchester are still reliant on funding from national funding schemes, which poorly reflect its deprivation. The devolved administration's ability to address health inequities at the primary care level seems uncertain.