Greater Manchester on April 1 will become the first region in the country to take control of its combined health and social care budgets, a sum of more than £6 billion.

It means that local officials, politicians and clinicians will be able to tailor budgets and priorities to directly meet the needs of local communities and improve the health and wellbeing of 2.8 million residents.

A top priority will be to tackle some of the worst health outcomes in the UK. More than two-thirds of early deaths in Greater Manchester are caused by behaviours which could be changed, while nearly 25 per cent of the population have a mental health or wellbeing issue.

Over 90 per cent of Greater Manchester residents are keen to improve their health and wellbeing.

A five-year plan will establish a new relationship between public services, citizens, communities and businesses to bring a change in approach to health and wellbeing, both at home and in the workplace.

Greater Manchester is to receive £450 million in additional transformation funding to support developments to the system.