A multi-million pound expansion project set to chance the face of The Royal Oldham Hospital has been given the green light.
It has finally been confirmed today that The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group has received business case approval which will allow them to demolish existing facilities and deliver a £28 million four-storey extension to the main hospital site building in its place.
Approval of the plans means the demolition of existing facilities will make way for two new 24-bed general surgery wards.
The two new surgery wards will also be joined by the creation of a new emergency theatre within the current theatres unit, which will allow the hospital to operate as “a surgical hub” site for high risk and emergency general and colorectal surgery for the north east of Greater Manchester.
The sickest patients from across the region will therefore have access to treatment in a new facility.
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Speaking on the plans having been given the green light, David Jago – Chief Officer at The Royal Oldham Hospital – said: “The new surgical hub will provide much needed expertise to the people of the north east of Greater Manchester.
“It will [also] enable other developments at The Royal Oldham, which will advance our ambitions to provide care and employment to the people of Oldham and beyond.”
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Northern Care Alliance / Day Architectural
The new expansion project – which has been made possible following full business case approval for Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership’s Healthier Together scheme – comes after the current hospital building was recently deemed “not fit for purpose for the 21st century” by Chief Operating Officer at the Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, Mike Barber.
Planning permission for the extension has already been granted, with a design that went through a public consultation in November 2019.
Works are expected to start within the next few months.
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Raj Jain – Chief Executive at Northern Care Alliance – added: “It is great to see The Royal Oldham Hospital receiving this well-deserved investment to improve the hospital’s infrastructure, and I would like to thank all of those staff who have been involved in the plans and the design so far as part of the planning process.
“I am really looking forward to seeing the development take shape and witnessing the difference it will make to patients, staff and the public in the surrounding area.”
The new building is set to be completed, open and ready for new patients by Spring 2023.
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
19th February 2021 
