Summary
This is the 18th and final 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.
Colleagues across health and care, and the voluntary sector, were thanked for working over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Mark Fisher, the chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester, issued the note of thanks as part of the 18th and final winter briefing, along with advice on where to go for medical help.
The briefing also acknowledged the pressures experienced by general practice and community pharmacy in managing prescription requests ahead of the four-day weekend.
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.
To provide feedback on the briefings, which have been issued regularly since 30 November 2023 and posted on the Greater Manchester Primary Care Provider Board website, you can email gmhscp.media@nhs.net
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, 35% 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 87 practices reporting, 8% of optical sites are feeling a significant or very significant increase in demand, with a further 1% of practices facing extreme demand.
- Pharmacy – of 140 pharmacies reporting, 26% 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 28 March, ahead of the Easter weekend, Mark Fisher, chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester said: “I hope that everyone enjoys the long weekend ahead but if you become unwell, there are a range of NHS services available for you to use. Over the bank holiday weekend, contact NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice, but it’s not an emergency. The service is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses and paramedics and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Greater Manchester has urgent dental and eye care services, mental health helplines, out-of-hours GP provision, and several pharmacies will also be open over the Easter weekend. They can provide free health advice to support you to self-care and no appointment is necessary. A&E departments and 999 are still available to treat the most serious and life-threatening conditions.
“My profound thanks to health and care staff including in the voluntary sector who will be working this weekend to ensure people can access care around-the-clock.
“Best wishes for a peaceful Easter.”
