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
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
24-hour bus services are now running across all Greater Manchester boroughs
Emily Sergeant
24-hour bus services are now running across all boroughs in Greater Manchester.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy… and now it’s official, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched those 24-hour buses this month, along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford now join the rest of Greater Manchester in having 24-hour bus services, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that these new services will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
The routes which will run around the clock from Thursday until Sunday are:
50 (Salford – Manchester)
216 (Tameside – Manchester)
263 (Trafford – Manchester)
192 (Stockport – Manchester)
83 (Oldham – Manchester)
All Greater Manchester boroughs now have 24-hour bus services / Credit: TfGM
They launch alongside the most significant service changes to the Bee Network since the completion of bus franchising last year – including other new bus routes, and more frequent services across Greater Manchester.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy everything Greater Manchester offers, without the worry of how to get there and get home,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“By growing the Bee Network, we’re making it easier than ever for people to use the bus, day and night.
“Our night buses are already providing a lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of people who are growing our night-time economy and working in essential public services.”
“Whether people are heading home from a night at the theatre or starting the early shift at a hospital, they can now get on board the night bus as a safe and affordable way to travel.”
Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.
Emily Sergeant -
30th December 2022 
