The NHS has issued a plea to Greater Manchester residents urging them not to go to A&E unless it’s a “life-threatening emergency”.
Hospitals across the region are now said to be experiencing “unprecedented pressures”.
In the wake of the mass striking of ambulance workers across the North West just before Christmas, NHS Greater Manchester explained that it was experiencing “a sustained increase” in demand for all its services, but that the area under the most pressure was the region’s emergency departments – with “exceptionally high numbers of people” making a trip to A&E.
Medical officials in the region revealed last week that most of Greater Manchester’s hospitals were almost full, with limited beds available, and that there was “extremely long waits” to be seen in emergency departments and for ambulances.
“This is not a situation we want for any of our patients and our dedicated staff are working extremely hard to make sure patients are seen in order of clinical need,” an urgent NHS statement read.
ADVERTISEMENT
NHS urges Greater Manchester residents not to go to A&E unless it’s a ‘life-threatening emergency’ / Credit: NWAS
With its top priority being able to continue providing safe and high-quality care for people across the region though, NHS Greater Manchester did indicate last week that, in the coming days, it may be forced to make some further changes in order to protect its emergency and life-saving services and ensure it can “maintain safe care 24/7.”
Now, less than two-weeks after this initial warning, an urgent plea asking Greater Manchester residents not to attend A&E or call 999 unless it is absolutely necessary has now been issued.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The first days back after the Christmas break is always busy for NHS services, but this has been beyond anything we have experienced before,” explained Professor Jane Eddleston – Greater Manchester Medical Executive lead for acute care.
“So we are making an urgent plea to the public in Greater Manchester to only call 999 or attend A& E departments if their condition is a life-threatening emergency.”
Professor Eddleston pointed to “unprecedented levels of attendance at A&E, staff sickness, and increased prevalence of flu and COVID” as being key contributing factors leading to very long waits in emergency departments and for ambulances.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We urge the public to use alternative services to make use of NHS 111 online and phone services,” she added.
“Contacting your GP and attending your local pharmacist will mean you get treatment much sooner.”
NHS Greater Manchester is now also urging anyone experiencing flu or COVID-like symptoms to stay at home as we head into the new year so that they do not pass on infections on to others.
“Both can be serious illnesses, so please take the necessary precautions to protect your loved ones, particularly those who are vulnerable, including getting your vaccines if you are eligible,” Professor Eddleston concluded.
Featured Image – NHS Greater Manchester
News
Pat Regan at the Fairfield Social Club – a brilliantly unhinged evening of standup comedy
Clementine Hall
There’s a particular kind of chaos that only Pat Regan can deliver, and the recently re-recognised Fairfield Social Club got the full force of it last night.
Making his Manchester debut as part of the ‘A Lovely Time’ series at the equally as lovely Fairfield Social Club, the New York comic, writer, and podcast host arrived with the energy of someone who had already lived through three emotional breakdowns before breakfast and somehow still had the worst to come.
Known for his work on HBO’s Hacks and the cult-favourite podcast Seek Treatment with fellow comic Catherine Cohen, Regan’s stand-up feels less like your traditional comedy set and more like being trapped in the world’s funniest group chat.
The perfectly intimate room beneath Fairfield’s railway arches was packed with adoring fans who were immediately on side as Regan launched into stories about traumatic trips to Paris, Grindr dates, massage tables and having crushes at the gym.
The audience was in the palm of his slightly sweaty hands (don’t worry, he’ll be fine with me saying so), laughing at every awkward punchline and self-deprecating anecdote.
The material is nothing groundbreaking, but this is what makes it so deeply hilarious; never before has shopping for the perfect pair of jeans been so serious and unserious at the same time.
There was laughter rolling through the venue for virtually the entire set, and after an hour of never-ending quips and jokes, we were left wanting more.
And the best part is, it won’t be long until we get more from this place, and it’s no wonder they’re starting to get the hosting plaudits they deserve.
It’s safe to say Fairfield Social Club has become one of Manchester’s most exciting homes for alternative comedy, and this felt like exactly the sort of booking that justifies its growing reputation.
By the time Regan left the stage, the audience looked equal parts exhausted and delighted. An absolutely classy evening indeed.
Find out about what else is on at the Fairfield Social Club HERE.
First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
30th December 2022 
