A MULTI-million pound deal could be on the cards to bring health spending powers to the county.

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has revealed its draft Statement of Intent which will set out what the county can offer Government and UK businesses, propose potential funding asks of Government and lay out the economic opportunity of the county.

Part of the strategy will see the LEP health devolution deal like Surrey’s £80 million deal: to acquire local control of devolved budgets across partner health and care organisations.

It is understood that the proposed deal could cover the areas Dorset Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) area and will lead to greater local accountability for health and social care spending in the region with the LEP adding that it would help to reduce the total cost of health services provision while improving patient outcomes at the same time.

In a statement, the LEP added: “We will also align our integrated health system with housing and infrastructure planning to ensure people can live in their homes for longer, provide better patient experiences and choices, offer the same standard of care across all health and care settings and provide more care closer to people’s homes.”

Dorset’s health watchdog, Healthwatch Dorset has backed the plans saying that decisions which affect Dorset “must” be made by Dorset residents.

Martyn Webster, Healthwatch Dorset manager, added: “When it comes to making decisions about the design and delivery of health and social care services for the people of Dorset, we’re in favour of those decisions being made in Dorset, by Dorset and for Dorset.

“But the biggest decision that must be taken is to once and for all break down the barriers between health services and social care services.

“The fact that they’re still two separate systems results in too many people being passed from pillar to post and not getting the care they need when they need it.

“It’s been talked about for long enough. Now the talk needs to become reality. We need one, joined up, health and care system with one budget. And we need people in charge with the vision and determination to make that happen.”

The health devolution concept was first pioneered in Greater Manchester in 2016 after the government agreed on a £6bn health devolution deal to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

Gary Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association, said that Greater Manchester move will act as a blueprint for how to turn future deals into achievable transformation plans which could include Dorset.

He added: “As well as health budgets, Whitehall needs to put its faith in devolving the fullest range of powers to all local areas, with no policy areas out of bounds and with them free to choose the best governance to suit their local needs.”

Tim Goodson, chief officer at NHS Dorset CCG, said they would "open minded" to hear the LEP's proposals.