Recently I took a group of councillors to Berlin. Perhaps the most illuminating discussions were with a German MP who when asked about health issues said ‘that's not my job, that's for my colleagues on the Land (local state)'

It is difficult to overstate the importance of agreement between Greater Manchester, NHS England and the Government on the provision of health and social care. For years everyone involved in public services has spoken about the vital need to integrate heath and social care for the benefit of the patient. Yet nothing has happened until now.