Latest news with #NHSGreaterManchester
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Plan to cut free IVF to one-cycle across Greater Manchester
The number of NHS-funded IVF cycles available in parts of Greater Manchester could drop to one under new plans for a "consistent approach" across the cycles are currently available for women in Tameside, while two are on offer in Salford, Wigan and remaining six boroughs - including Oldham where the first "test tube baby" Louise Brown was born due to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1978 - already only offer one cycle for region's residents are being urged to take part in a six-week public consultation on the proposed changes, which the NHS said would make it "fair for everyone" and "affordable" for the health service. NHS Greater Manchester is proposing one full IVF cycle to eligible women aged 39 and under - plus an additional attempt if the first cycle is cancelled or said the "inconsistency stems from historic commissioning arrangements" and it was reviewing the policies to "ensure a consistent and fair approach for everyone, regardless of where they live".The planned measure was "affordable for the NHS now and in the future", it added. 'Deeply personal' There are no changes planned to the eligibility criteria or the current offer of one cycle for women aged Sheerin, chief commissioning officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said "fertility is a deeply personal and often emotional topic, which is why this consultation is so important"."Whether you've had experience with IVF, are considering fertility treatment, or simply want to share your perspective, please take part and share your views."The consultation is available online and sessions will be held locally until the consultation ends on 29 July. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Top performing children's hospital gets £4m bonus for A&E turn arounds
A children's hospital has been given a £4m bonus after being recognised as one of the top performing NHS trusts in England for seeing A&E patients within four Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool came second in national rankings, with 89.3% of patients seen within the target, and it had the second lowest number of patients waiting more than 12 NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board have been handed £5m for having the best ambulance response times in cash is handed out by NHS England from a £150m pot to the best performing and most improved hospital trusts in 2024-25. The urgent and emergency care capital incentive scheme awards trusts who see and discharge most A&E patients within the NHS target of four also recognises those who have cut the number of 12-hour waits in emergency departments and improved ambulance response time. 'More to do' Alder Hey in Liverpool was also in the top five trusts with the highest four-hour performance when comparing March 2024 to March Greater Manchester had an ambulance response time of 23 minutes 57 seconds to category 2 callouts, which include patients suffering burns, epilepsy and strokes or chest NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria, that response time was 26 minutes 20 in the north west of England, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust all received £ cash was for improving on their 12-hour wait times in March 2024 until March 2025. Five other NHS organisations in the region have all received £1m for improving A&E waiting include trusts in Bolton, Tameside and Glossop, and Stockport, alongside the Countess of Chester Hospital, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Michael Gregory, regional medical director for NHS England, said staff had worked "incredibly hard to deliver high quality urgent and emergency services".He said that was reflected in the achievement of being named as some of England's best performing trusts."We recognise there is more to do and we are committed to working with NHS organisations in the North-West to continue this journey of improvement", he added. Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Calls for new diagnostics centre in Altrincham after unit shuts
Calls are being made for a new diagnostic centre to be based at a Greater Manchester hospital following a controversial move to permanently close its minor injuries and local politicians opposed the closure of the unit at Altrincham General Hospital, which was confirmed in unit was shut during the coronavirus pandemic because of staff shortages and specialist nursing staff were deployed to other sites like Wythenshawe Hospital, where residents in south Trafford must now go to get and Sale West MP Connor Rand said he was now in "active discussions" with the government to boost services offered in Altrincham. Rand said: "I consistently opposed the closure of the minor injuries unit. "But since the disappointing decision to close it was confirmed, I have been in active discussions with the government."We need new services at Altrincham Hospital that will reduce pressure on Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospital and save local residents unnecessary journeys."A diagnostics centre would do this. I'll continue to press for this in the weeks and months ahead." 'Spiralling waiting lists' His call followed comments by Trafford Council's Liberal Democrat spokesman for health, Councillor Simon Lepori, who is also a health professional, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the decision to permanently close the unit had left "unanswered questions about the future of local health services in south Trafford". He continued: "How are we going to tackle spiralling waiting lists at Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospitals? How can we support people who are struggling to access GP services? "What will the three empty rooms that housed the unit be used for now?"Trafford Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour Party and NHS Greater Manchester bosses to establish a permanent diagnostic centre at Altrincham."A statement from NHS Greater Manchester said it was "committed to ensuring local residents have access to the right healthcare when they need it".It added: "We are exploring how to make the best use of the space within Altrincham Hospital as part of wider plans to improve healthcare across Greater Manchester." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Greater Manchester minor injury unit to permanently close amid short-staffing
A Greater Manchester minor injury unit will close permanently, having initially shut due to staff shortages. The Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) was temporarily closed in April 2020 due to national shortages of specialist nursing staff, known as emergency nurse practitioners, a situation exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, NHS Greater Manchester announced today (March 26). During the pandemic, NHS staff were redeployed to busier urgent care settings to help meet increased demand. The unit briefly reopened in July 2021 but closed again after a month due to ongoing staff shortages. READ MORE: Man killed after being hit by van in 'road rage' horror READ MORE: LIVE: Hunt for driver underway after man killed after being struck by van Limited resources means making tough decisions, say Greater Manchester health bosses. Katherine Sheerin, chief commissioning officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said: "We understand that confirming the permanent closure of the Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit may not be the news some residents were hoping for. However, this decision brings an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty and ensures that urgent and emergency care services continue to meet national standards." "Providing the best possible care with limited resources means making tough decisions. While the MIU was once an important part of local healthcare, both the way services are delivered and what people need from them have changed. "To offer safer, more reliable care for everyone, services must be organised in a way that works better for the whole community, both now and in the future." The decision has prompted anger from local politicians and residents alike. A paper presented to an NHS Greater Manchester board meeting on Wednesday (March 26) said: "It should also be highlighted that since the unit's closure, there have been no complaints from the public, Healthwatch, or the voluntary sector. "However, the matter has received significant coverage in the local media, focusing on statements made by Trafford politicians and discussions from public committee meetings." A statement from NHS Greater Manchester, which is responsible for health services in the region, read: "Before its closure, the MIU operated with inconsistent hours, sometimes causing confusion for patients. It saw fewer than 50 patients per day, with 65 per cent of those living within two miles of the hospital." "Since then, services have been relocated to Wythenshawe Hospital, around three miles away. Wythenshawe offers a full 24/7 A&E department and a wider range of urgent care services. Additionally, extended access appointments are available at local GP surgeries across Trafford. "These offer evening and weekend appointments with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, providing more flexibility for those who need it." All other services at Altrincham Hospital remain open and patients should attend their appointments as normal, the health service has said. The space previously occupied by the MIU was temporarily repurposed to support other NHS services. Following this decision, plans for the space are underway to determine its long-term use to ensure it continues to benefit patients, the region's NHS has added. Ms Sheerin added: "Alongside Wythenshawe Hospital's 24/7 A&E, local GP practices offer extended access appointments, including evenings and weekends, and NHS 111 remains available to guide people to the most appropriate care quickly and safely. "It is important to recognise the dedication and hard work of staff throughout this period. Staff have worked tirelessly to ensure continuity of care, both locally and through national efforts to address long-term workforce planning and meet NHS priorities for improving patient care. "We remain committed to improving services, tackling waiting times, and building a sustainable workforce to meet future demand. "We're incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their views. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping how we move forward to provide the best possible care for Trafford and Greater Manchester." In September 2024, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board agreed recommendations from the Trafford Urgent Care Review, including the proposal to permanently close Altrincham MIU. The board accepted the review, which said that standalone minor injury units like Altrincham MIU can create a fragmented, confusing system, especially for people who already face difficulties accessing healthcare. Local and national experts assessed the decision to ensure it met all necessary clinical, safety, and regulatory standards, the announcement reads. The review included an in-depth analysis of the potential impact on patient care, alongside substantial feedback gathered from residents, healthcare professionals, and local stakeholders. NHS Greater Manchester's board decided that a formal public consultation was not required following this review and that the unit will close. "By consolidating urgent care services at Wythenshawe Hospital, which provides round-the-clock A&E care and a wider range of services, the aim is to create a simpler, more effective system that ensures everyone gets the right care in the right place, regardless of their background or circumstances," said NHS Greater Manchester.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Altrincham minor injuries unit to close for good
A minor injuries unit is to be permanently closed, NHS bosses have unit at Altrincham General Hospital was first shut in 2020 due to a national shortage of specialist emergency nurses but briefly reopened for a month in July 2021 before closing again due to staff to shut the department came after a review recommended "stand-alone" units should not be recommissioned to help address "the often confusing mix of urgent care services" in plans to close the unit provoked an outcry from Altrincham and Sale MP Connor Rand and councillors who said it would be a "devastating loss". Rand used his maiden speech in the Commons to call for the unit to be told fellow MPs the minor injuries unit was "a service that was relied upon by my constituents" before its Greater Manchester said services had been relocated to Wythenshawe Hospital about three miles away, which offers a "round-the-clock" Accident & Emergency department and a wider range of urgent care services. 'Ends uncertainty' It said all other services at Altrincham Hospital remained open and plans were under way to determine the long-term use of the space where the minor injuries unit was Sheerin, chief commissioning officer for NHS Greater Manchester, said that while it might not be the news some residents were hoping for, the decision "brings an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty and ensures urgent and emergency care services continue to meet national standards"."While the [unit] was once an important part of local healthcare, both the way services are delivered and what people need from them have changed," she said. "To offer safer, more reliable care for everyone, services must be organised in a way that works better for the whole community, both now and in the future."She said alongside Wythenshawe's A&E local GP practices offered extended access appointments and NHS 111 could guide people to the "most appropriate" care. Ms Sheerin said NHS Greater Manchester was committed to "improving services, tackling waiting times and building a sustainable workforce". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
