People are continuing to report huge waits in A&Es across Greater Manchester as an NHS boss issued an updated plea to the public today.
Dramatic scenes are being reported at hospitals up and down the country as the NHS faces one of its biggest ever crises. New data shows that one in five ambulance patients in England waited more than an hour to be handed over to emergency care teams last week, as hospitals continue to struggle with bed shortages and a surge in winter viruses.
And in Greater Manchester on December 18, a total of 149 patients taken to hospital endured handover waits of more than an hour, according to the statistics. The figures for the day are the latest available - with ongoing pressures being faced by hospitals likely to indicate the current figure would be higher.
READ MORE: View from Greater Manchester's A&Es amid urgent crisis with beds nearly full
Available hospital beds in Greater Manchester, meanwhile, are said to be almost full - the data shows occupancy is currently at around 98 per cent, with around a tenth of all beds filled with Covid-positive patients.
Tonight, an NHS boss has continued to urge the public to 'play their part' to help ease the pressures on the NHS by using 111 and only calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Her plea comes as patients who have been attending hospitals across our region have reported battling long waits to get treated.
'I was in a long time but the staff were doing the best they can'
Alex Page said he experienced a very busy Stepping Hill Hospital A&E on Wednesday night, but staff still managed to act with kindness and dignity. "The staff were fantastic, you could feel a little bit of frustration from people at the six plus hour waits but not towards the staff, they are dedicated," he said.
Mr Page took himself to A&E with chest pains after being told he may have to wait up to four hours for an ambulance by a call handler. He'd initially tried 111 but could not get through before dialling 999. He said the waiting area was fairly packed and people could be seen waiting on trollies for treatment as beds needed to be freed up.
"It was very busy but mostly quite a calm atmosphere. Some nights you can be there and it's a bit rowdy but despite how busy it was the other night it was quite relaxed, the staff were great.
"I was told people were being brought in very poorly on ambulances with a lot of them waiting outside which added to everyone else's wait. I was in a very long time but they were being thorough and reassuring which is exactly what you want. I've seen so many negative comments recently about people waiting a long time but I can 100% say the staff are doing the best they can to help and support people with the resources they have."
'We were told it would be a 12 hour wait'
One mum told us about her experience in Tameside Children's A&E on Wednesday night, where she had taken her daughter with a suspected broken hand. "As soon as we got there we were told it would be a 12 hour wait to see the doctor that was on. There were some really poorly children there," she said.
"One child was there who had been swimming and banged their head and were in the waiting room throwing up but they had to wait hours to be triaged. Some of us told them to go and find someone to be seen sooner because it was probably concussion. If that were my child I would have kicked off.
"We had to wait two hours to be triaged but then many more hours to actually get an x-ray. We had to wait six hours a few weeks ago when my son had Strep-A and we were one of the lucky ones to get anti-biotics.
"They (nurses and doctors) are working very hard but something has to change. It was relatively calm in the waiting room but it was just taking so long for people to be seen because so many people were there. People were just walking out after a few hours. So many people were being sent here from their doctors when they didn't need to be it looked like too."
Plenty more people commented on our Facebook page about their experiences. Cheryl Berresford said: "A&E 10 and a half hour wait for walk ins." Christine Donohoe said: "I must have been lucky, only waited 16 hours." Joanne Hooley Glenn said: "Waited 25 hrs for an ambulance for my 80-year-old mum."
Interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said in a recent statement on the pressures across the NHS: “The situation is very worrying. We’re seeing Covid-19 cases and flu on top of the usual winter pressures. Staff sickness rates are high, aggravating severe workforce shortages and the strikes have caused additional disruption.
“These pressures are being felt right across the system, in hospitals, A&Es, mental health, community and ambulance services. Too often that can lead to delays for patients. But it’s important not to lose sight of the good care that is being delivered to many people through this holiday period. Trusts and their partners are doing all they can in very difficult circumstances."
'Our dedicated teams have worked tirelessly', NHS boss says
Professor Jane Eddleston, , Greater Manchester Medical Executive lead for acute care, said how Wednesday ' was beyond anything we have experienced before ' in an urgent plea for the public to only call 999 or go to A&E in a life-threatening emergency.
In an updated statement issued on Friday night, she said: “Our dedicated teams have worked tirelessly over the last couple of days to make sure that care could be given to all those who needed it; and I’d like to thank them for what they have done and continue to do so. I also want to express our appreciation to the public for their support in choosing the right health and care service when looking for help and support.
“We continue to ask people in Greater Manchester to play their part by enjoying the festive season sensibly and wherever possible, practicing self-care; using their local pharmacy; avoiding mixing with flu and Covid like symptoms and using NHS 111 Online for advice. Small actions that everyone can take such as keeping A&E for emergencies and serious accidents only and helping get a loved-one home from hospital do make a difference.
“Like other parts of the country, the NHS and local care services remain under significant pressure and with cases of flu increasing, we are seeing this reflected in our health and care settings with a sharp rise in people ill enough to require hospital admission. Getting a flu vaccine or Covid booster remains the best way to protect yourself from serious illness and hospitalisation during winter.
“Flu can cause severe illness and I would strongly urge people to take up the offer of vaccination if they have not done so already and to speak to a professional if they have any concerns. Make it your New Year’s resolution to book a jab for you and all the family.
“As we approach the end of 2022, I want to reassure the public that the NHS will be there for them when they need it and advise people to seek help if it is an emergency or life-threatening. If it is not urgent, there are a number of alternatives available for the public and NHS 111 can help you get to know where to go if you aren’t sure. May I take this opportunity to wish people in Greater Manchester a happy and peaceful New Year.”
For more of today's top stories click here.
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