Summary
This is the 16th 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.
NHS services are gearing up for the long Easter weekend later this month. Easter is traditionally a very busy time of year for emergency services, when reduced hours at some GP practices and pharmacies can leave some people unsure about where to go for help.
However, many services remain open during this period to provide people with medical advice and support needed.
Most people who come to accident and emergency departments are in genuine need, but if people need medical care and it’s not an emergency, they may face a long wait, and there are several alternatives to consider that could help avoid that.
Use NHS Greater Manchester’s handy service finder to help.
NHS Greater Manchester is also reminding people to be prepared for the Easter Bank Holiday and to order prescriptions in advance to avoid any complications or delays.
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 239 practices reporting, 33% of dental practices are feeling a significant or very significant increase in demand, with a further 16% of practices facing extreme demand.
- General practice – of 278 practices reporting, 28% 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 135 pharmacies reporting, 27% of sites are feeling significantly challenged and 4% 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 14 March, Mark Fisher, chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester said: “Winter illnesses continue to circulate. Many of which can be managed at home and NHS UK has lots of information available to help people. If you are unsure which healthcare service best meets your needs, you can phone NHS 111 or use the online chat service at any time for professional healthcare advice. As well as being treated more quickly, this will ensure emergency departments (A&E) can focus on treating people with serious and life-threatening conditions.”
