Summary
This is the 14th weekly winter briefing produced by NHS Greater Manchester to update stakeholders on how services are performing and how we work together to manage demand and provide care and support to the public.
Each week, the primary care data is updated along with the statement from Mark Fisher, chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester.
Attendances are reduced compared to previous weeks, however several Trusts have high numbers in their emergency departments.
Bed occupancy levels remain high. Primary and community services are busy with high levels of demand and pressure being felt in services.
Key messages and support are being shared with primary care colleagues and other health and care professionals in relation to measles.
This weekly briefing, produced by NHS Greater Manchester, aims to update stakeholders on how services are performing and how we work together to manage demand and provide care and support to the public.
An investment of approximately £2million has been made into additional primary care services this winter, such as expanding the community urgent eye service, urgent dental care, minor ailment schemes at local pharmacies and GP surge hubs to provide more appointments.
Primary care data
There are approximately 1,800 primary care providers, with a workforce of around 22,000.
We recently launched our blueprint for primary care to improve access to GPs, dentists, optometrists, and pharmacists.
There are approximately 1,800 primary care providers, with a workforce of around 22,000.
- Dentistry – of 236 practices reporting, 31% of dental practices are feeling a significant or very significant increase in demand, with a further 19% of practices facing extreme demand.
- General practice – of 277 practices reporting, 29% of GP practices are feeling a significant or very significant increase in demand, with a further 1% of practices facing extreme demand.
- Optometry – of 86 practices reporting, 7% of optical sites are feeling a significant or very significant increase in demand, with a further 2% of practices facing extreme demand.
- Pharmacy – of 132 pharmacies reporting, 25% of sites are feeling significantly challenged and 5% are feeling challenged but coping.
Providers across all primary care disciplines are encouraged to submit a weekly sit rep, noting areas of pressure. This is also known as a ‘pulse check’.
Work is underway to encourage more practices to use the pulse check so that support can be provided where appropriate.
Providers can access support by visiting the primary care sitrep support page on the GMPCB website.
On Thursday 29 February, Mark Fisher, chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester said:
“I want to thank the public and staff from across all health and care services for their support over the last period of industrial action and reaffirm that we would like to see a resolution to the ongoing pay dispute soon. Colleagues in all care settings have worked incredibly hard to keep people safe during the strikes and the public have responded to our advice. As ever, if you are in doubt about which service you should use, contact 111 online and they will inform you of the best place to go.
“Looking ahead, Easter arrives earlier than usual this year. People should give themselves time for their repeat prescriptions to be processed especially if they may need a review ahead of a prescription being reissued and travelling away from home for the Bank Holidays.
“Lastly, a reminder that lots of work is underway to ensure children and others are fully vaccinated against measles. Measles can be a serious infection that can lead to children being unwell and in hospital, so I would strongly urge and encourage all parents and carers to make sure their children are fully vaccinated. Measles spreads very easily but is preventable and you can book a free, quick appointment at your GP practice.”
