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MANCHESTER, UK
INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION IN HEALTH
Benefiting from a devolved health and social care system, unrivalled digital assets and ambitions, academic and research capability and thriving industry partnerships, Greater Manchester is well placed to deliver innovation and change within the system with Cities Changing Diabetes.
Diabetes prevalence in Greater Manchester has doubled in the last 20 years. With 7.2% of the population living with diabetes (90% type 2, 10% type 1), the city has a higher prevalence rate than the UK average of 6%.51
The city-region has been championing a cross-sector and system-wide approach to improve the health of its 2.8 million residents.
A RESEARCH- AND INNOVATIONFOCUSED PARTNERSHIP
The Cities Changing Diabetes programme in Manchester formally began in December 2019 in partnership with Health Innovation Manchester, an academic health science and innovation system which works with NHS organisations, universities, researchers and industry to transform the health and well-being of Greater Manchester's citizens.
The partnership has established a steering group, made up of stakeholder partners and representatives from across the system. The programme has identified three workstreams for prioritisation: a diabetes vulnerability assessment, mapping and system needs readiness, and a community engagement programme.
DIABETES VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
The city will conduct quantitative and qualitative research to establish the prevalence of diabetes and the sociocultural determinants of diabetes in Manchester. Comprehensive data are available on diabetes prevalence in the UK. However, the partnership intends to explore research opportunities around prediabetes. This workstream will develop a more detailed understanding of the scale of the challenge in Greater Manchester in order to inform the development of targeted initiatives to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
MAPPING AND SYSTEM NEEDS READINESS
This mapping exercise will seek to identify existing initiatives related to diabetes in Greater Manchester. It will consider work across the patient journey, from prevention to improvements in diabetes-associated mortality rates. Its specific focus will be on the use of digital data and new analytical opportunities to drive innovation.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Manchester is a culturally diverse population where high levels of obesity and diabetes are more common among minority ethnic groups. Research from the British Muslim Heritage Centre (BMHC) – also part of the steering group – found that people from minority ethnic groups may not engage with mainstream services if they are not culturally sensitive or appropriate. By involving people, community organisations and faith leaders able to represent the views of local minority ethnic groups, the city can ensure that services reflect the needs and preferences of its communities.
