Greater Manchester hospitals pause non-urgent surgery as Covid pressures hit
Around 15 percent of the region's workforce are either off ill or isolating.
Last updated 5th Jan 2022
Non-urgent surgeries and appointments are being paused at 17 hospitals across Greater Manchester, as they deal with Covid-19 and staffing shortages.
Around 15% of the region's workforce are either off ill or isolating, according to the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.
We're being warned the situation could worsen in the next fortnight.
Hospital bosses are hoping the measures will be temporary.
A statement released overnight reads:
"Hospitals in Greater Manchester have made the difficult decision to pause some non-urgent surgery and appointments due to the rising impact of Covid. Patients who will be affected by this are being contacted.
"This is a temporary measure, and the aim is to impact the fewest number of patients. It will not affect cancer and urgent care including cardiac surgery, vascular surgery and transplantation. The Christie will continue to provide cancer care in a Covid secure way and Rochdale continues to provide cancer and other urgent surgery as a Covid secure site for Greater Manchester.
"Covid admissions are rising sharply (from 126 on December 19th to 359 on Jan 2nd), 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.
"The bed modelling suggests these challenges may get worse, not better, in the next week or two."
The hospitals affected are:
Royal Bolton Hospital
Fairfield General Hospital
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
University Dental Hospital of Manchester
St Mary’s Hospital
North Manchester General Hospital
The Royal Oldham Hospital
Salford Royal Hospital
Stepping Hill Hospital
Tameside General Hospital
Trafford General Hospital
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Wrightington Hospital
Leigh Infirmary
Wythenshawe Hospital
Macclesfield District General Hospital
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson will meet his top team later as he continues to reject calls for further lockdown measures.
The Prime Minister wants to stick to Plan B rules.