Hospitals across Greater Manchester are to pause some non-urgent surgery and appointments due to the ‘rising impact’ of Covid-19.
Greater Manchester’s Health and Social Care Partnership made the announcement this evening saying that that the decision was ‘difficult’ and the measure is ‘temporary’ with the aim of impacting the fewest number of patients.
The announcement will not apply to cancer and urgent care, including cardiac surgery, vascular surgery and transplantation.
Diagnostic services, including endoscopy, and the majority of outpatient services, will continue “wherever possible”.
In a statement the Partnership said:
Staff have worked tirelessly to try to maintain services and deliver the highest quality of healthcare to local people.
“But Covid admissions are rising sharply (from 126 on 19 December to 359 on 2 January), as are inpatient diagnoses (193 to 738 for the same period), and in some hospitals more than one in five patients have Covid (though this is not translating into critical care pressure at present).
“However, the main reason is the high and rising level of staff absence, with around 15% off, either ill with Covid or isolating.
“There are also outbreaks in an increasing number of care homes, which is affecting how people are discharged from hospital.
“The bed modelling suggests these challenges may get worse, not better, in the next week or two.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, which is made up of local NHS organisations and councils, emergency services, the voluntary sector, Healthwatch and others including the mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“We understand how disappointing this will be for patients who have appointments or procedures affected, especially those who have already waited some time, and we know people will be worried.”
Fiona Noden, co-chair of Greater Manchester Hospital Gold command and lead for elective care in the region, said: “This has been a very difficult decision and not one that we have taken lightly, but we’ve done it so we can keep people safe, can maintain the very best infection control measures, can make sure we deploy staff to where they’re needed most and can keep looking after people who need urgent and emergency care, including cancer treatment.
“We would urge anyone with health concerns to continue to come forward for help and treatment in the usual way, using their local emergency department only for serious illnesses or injuries.
“And we would also ask everyone to keep doing their bit to minimise the spread of the virus – please get vaccinated and boosted, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces, wash your hands more frequently and minimise your contact with people outside your immediate household.”
Tameside MP Andrew Gwynne said:
“It’s extremely concerning and will add to an NHS backlog that was at already at record levels before the pandemic began.
The Government needs to be honest about the pressure the NHS is under and what they plan to do about it and people and MPs will certainly want reassurance that our local hospitals are able to maintain safe staffing levels and guarantee patient safety“
Patients waiting for hospital care are being directed to ‘While you Wait’ – an online resource which features resources on how to look after both physical and mental health while waiting for treatments and advice on managing conditions. You can access it here: www.whileyouwait.org.uk
