Clinical commissioners are making a ‘positive contribution’ to their local economies, new report finds.

NHS Clinical Commissioners has published a new study into how clinical leaders in the eight largest cities outside of London are looking at how the services they commission can improve not only the health but social and economic wellbeing of their populations.

It found clinical commissioners are working with a range of partners to combat health inequalities and social exclusion, increase skills and employment and to attract inward investment.

This also includes helping people into work as unemployment is deemed a health risk, associated with higher rates of mortality, psychological distress, and hospital admissions.

The report—entitled Shaping Healthy Cities and Economies—recorded how Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is tackling physical inactivity, which drives higher health expenditure, productivity loss, absenteeism and disability and has an overall annual cost to society of £8.2bn.

It also described how a CCG led programme in Manchester is supporting people to address underlying issues contributing to unemployment and help people find and maintain jobs that best suit their individual needs.

Chair of NHS CC’s core cities network and clinical chair of NHS Sheffield CCG, Dr Tim Moorhead said: ‘This new report demonstrates the important role the health sector plays in local economies and shows how CCGs in England’s core cities are commissioning not only to improve the health but social and economic wellbeing of their populations.

‘While there is a lot of good work already happening we are keen to do even more, and the recommendations in the report highlight how the contribution that clinical commissioning makes to local economic growth can be further increased.’

The report makes a number of recommendations, including ensuring the next round of devolution plans emphasise public sector reform and considers the role the health sector makes to local economies.