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More people waited 12 hours-plus at Pennine Acute hospitals last month than anywhere else in the country, with Oldham especially hard hit. This isn’t just normal winter pressures though. These are the Covid impacts some people were saying wouldn’t happen https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/covid-cases-build-more-people-19271480
Worth noting a couple of things that don’t seem to be getting much coverage nationally or even that much talk from local politicians, never mind national.
- Oldham has had high and endemic levels of the virus throughout. It now has *very* high numbers among over 60s
- Oldham has had high and endemic levels of the virus throughout. It now has *very* high numbers among over 60s
It also has very high levels of poverty (incl child poverty); large south Asian communities more at risk from the virus; bad housing; lots of people in insecure work who struggle to self isolate; and entrenched health inequalities, none of which are disconnected to the above
Feels like a new looming health crisis and not just from Covid. If more and more people are in beds because they have the virus then fewer and fewer people are able to get timely beds for other things, as the figures demonstrate (and in October - not November)
Not that this is only Oldham: North Mcr General - again serving an area with high levels of poverty and chronic illness - is struggling too. Across GM 12-hour waits are four times higher than this time last year. It’s not the only measure of the impact, but it’s a warning light
Finally, to return to a real problem during this pandemic and one that is no good reflection on NHS management. We are desperately trying to get details, all the time, of what’s happening in our hospitals. It’s always been hard, but I’ve never known it like this
What’s the clearest way to get the message out? Let us tell the story of what’s happening in the health system. But the current situation represents the most extraordinary level of control freakery. We’ll get the story in the end, but in some respects, too late.
Instead we rely on limited numbers with a huge lag, we’re not allowed into hospitals, were not even allowed to speak to hospital staff (although many do regardless - so thankyou) and leaks. It makes me furious. It is at best stupid and at worst damaging.
Sorry rant over. Here’s what I did about secrecy last month. Makes me very cross - virtually nothing has improved since then. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/secrecy-spin-surrounding-greater-manchesters-19131905
