Warning that hospitals ‘very close’ to capacity
GREATER Manchester’s most senior health chief has warned the region’s hospitals are ‘very close’ to running out of space – and that this year’s winter pressures could be about to get even worse.
Jon Rouse, chief officer for Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said every hospital had been at over 90 per cent of capacity for two weeks.
He said all trusts across the region were now ‘reviewing’ their plans for the coming weeks after fresh guidance from NHS England recommended non-urgent procedures and outpatient appointments should be cancelled until after January 31.
Only Tameside Hospital has so far confirmed any delays, however.
Pressure on Greater Manchester’s A&Es has rocketed in the last fortnight thanks to a severe flu season, more respiratory illnesses, an increase in norovirus cases and an ageing population.
In the week before Christmas, the north west’s non-emergency 111 number saw a 30pc spike in calls – while those abandoned after a wait of 30 seconds or more quadrupled.
Since Christmas Day, ambulances have been diverted away from A&Es to other hospitals on four occasions due to crippling demand, while the Royal Bolton Hospital has been under particular pressure due to the flu outbreak.
Mr Rouse said a predicted cold snap this weekend could see demand surge even further across the region.
He said: “We know the pressures stay very high in January and early February. We know there is a cold snap forecast this weekend. That is not good news.
“We are continuously very close to full capacity, all hospitals have very high occupancy. But our workforce has done remarkably well coping with the pressure and will continue to do so. We are very proud of them.”
On Tuesday last week, NHS England told hospitals to delay pre-planned, non-urgent operations and routine outpatient appointments until after January 31 in order to deal with demand.
Trusts are already taking other steps to cope with the increased pressure, Mr Rouse added.