NHS bosses in Greater Manchester have issued an urgent plea amid immense pressure on services. "Today has been beyond anything we have experienced before," they wrote in a stark message on Wednesday evening (December 28).
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care has pleaded with people only to call 999 or attend A&E in an 'life-threatening' emergency. It follows a surge in patients needing care across the region following Christmas.
Hospitals across Greater Manchester have warned patients to expect 'extremely long' waits of four hours or more. At least ten ambulances were pictured waiting outside Royal Bolton Hospitals' busy A&E department earlier in the evening.
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care tweeted: "The first day back after the Christmas break is always busy for NHS services - today has been beyond anything we have experienced before.
"We are making an urgent plea to the public in Greater Manchester to only call 999 or attend A&E if their condition is a life threatening emergency."
On December 20, the body said: "We are experiencing a sustained increase in demand for all NHS services. Our NHS and care services are under extreme pressure and across Greater Manchester, we are continuing to see exceptionally high numbers of people attend emergency department.
"Our hospitals are almost full, with limited beds available and there are 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."
The latest message came just hours after the North West Ambulance Service shared a similar warning.
Bosses wrote: "It is the first day back after the Christmas break for most, and for us, it is traditionally an extremely busy day. If it's not an emergency please use [111] contact your GP, or visit a local pharmacist to get the help and advice you need."
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said the emergency department at Royal Bolton Hospital was experiencing 'extremely high levels of activity', with lines of ambulances seen parked up outside.
"The number of people attending our Emergency Department is really high and we are working through everyone who needs our help as soon as we possibly can," the trust said. "People who do not have an urgent need will experience extremely long waits while we treat the people who need us the most."
Elsewhere in the region, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust warned of 'very busy' emergency departments, with A&E only for 'serious and life-threatening conditions'.
Life-threatening emergencies include severe chest pains, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, severe tummy pain or headache or a young child who is very unwell.
The warning comes just a day after NWAS urged the public again to seek online help instead of calling 999 in the event of needing 'urgent medical help', and reminded the public that dialling 999 'does not guarantee that you'll receive an ambulance, or that you'll be seen at hospital any faster'.
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