Patients have spoken of long waits at A&E departments across Greater Manchester as pressure builds across the region’s hospitals.
One hospital chief executive has described an ‘extremely difficult’ night and morning at Wythenshawe Hospital over the weekend.
While a senior clinician said staffing has taken a hit as some medics have been forced to self-isolate either because their children have tested positive for Covid-19, or because they have been ‘pinged’ by the NHS Test and Trace app.
Manchester Evening News readers have also spoken of long wait times at A&E after patients at North Manchester Hospital claimed they faced a 13-hour wait to be seen.
One man visited the Crumpsall hospital with his wife on Friday morning (July 2) and was presented with a whiteboard stating the approximate wait time was 13 and a half hours.
The man - who waited five hours with his poorly wife - said: “I don’t doubt these nurses and doctors are doing an amazing job and it is not a dig at them but something has gone very wrong here.”
Patients who have an urgent healthcare need are urged to call 111 in the first instance. A trained clinician will advise as to the best route and if a visit to A&E is necessary.
People should always call 999 in an emergency however.
Mandy Nagra is chief executive for Wythenshawe, Trafford, Altrincham and Withington Hospitals.
She described a very busy weekend from Friday (July 2) into Saturday, tweeting: “Extremely difficult night and start to the morning at Wythenshawe Hospital
“Please support the teams to help our patients, by only using A&E where it's an emergency.
“Please utilise Trafford MIU today. Everyone's support is appreciated, particularly as Covid cases continue to rise”.
Later that day she added: “No doubt going to be a difficult night but even in the depth of pressure, WTWA never fails to ensure our patients are put first!
“Huge thanks to @parkerkarenj @Narinde40612684 @DocShariq &all colleagues supporting today! Its going to be a tough night ahead!”
Replying to her message, Dr Teresa Kelly - who works as a consultant obstetrician at Saint Mary’s Hospital - commented on current staffing issues.
“It’s the staffing that makes it difficult with staff isolating because their children are positive or because they’ve been pinged by T&T,” she tweeted.
“People also don’t want to do more extras. It’s hard on all fronts.”
Scores of people commented on the MEN Facebook page in response to the story about A&E wait times.
They have described their experiences of care across Greater Manchester’s various health trusts.
Many described struggling to get GP appointments, speculating that this could be a reason for the increased pressure on hospitals.
One reader commented: “This is due to no GP appointments being told there are no available appointments no matter what time you try to get into see your GP, people are being told to use walk in centres or go to A&E.
“I had two asthma attacks in one week could not see my GP even trying to get though to my GP was a massive undertaking each time I called I was on hold for an hour at least, costing money
“One day I was waiting almost two hours to get through and told nothing doing for 4 weeks I was told told the above. I rang every day for a week, because my GP practice won't see anyone face to face.
"I could not even get a telephone consultation, so ended up in A&E as my breathing was so bad, 5 hours I was there
“While I am sympathetic with my GP, not to be able to see anyone due to the virus being so rampant, this is not good and causes hospitals being overwhelmed with people needing to see a doctor.”
Another reader commented: “My mother was in hospital they told her she could go home at 4 in the afternoon three other patients were told the same thing.
“She did not get a discharge papers until 10:30 that night and neither did the other ladies.
“This is where your problem lies, people waiting for beds when the doctors tell people they can go home
“Give them a discharge paper straight away then you will have beds that you can get ready for the next patient.”
One woman commented: “I was in A&E for 4 hours this morning and whilst I was waiting there was sprained arms and legs, cut fingers, black eyes, things like this - then there was the other usual heart, breathing stomach ailments.
"So really the milder of these should be seen, like others have said, in a walk-in which should have X-ray facilities to take the pressure of the emergency patients.”
Another reader added: “I got took here on Monday night by ambulance was a 9 hour wait I was left in a bed on a corridor. The poor staff was rushed of there feet helping as many people as they could but I do think the issue is docs won’t see.”
Several people praised NHS staff for their ongoing efforts, including one woman who wrote: “When I was rushed in with COVID early on this year all the staff in A&E ICU & on the WARD were ANGELS who worked very HARD
“l owe my life to the staff who worked hard to save me and i THANK you ALL from the bottom of my heart”.
