1. Hospitals in Greater Manchester to resume non-urgent surgery and appointments

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    At the beginning of January, the difficult decision was made to pause non-urgent surgery and appointments due to the impact of COVID-19. Although services remain busy, the situation has improved to the point where non-urgent surgery can now resume.

  2. Record number of NHS ambulance call outs for life-threatening conditions in December, despite jump in Omicron absences

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    NHS staff dealt with the highest ever number of life-threatening ambulance call outs last month, new figures show today.

  3. Pausing some elective care in Greater Manchester

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    Hospitals in Greater Manchester have made the difficult decision to pause some non-urgent surgery and appointments due to the rising impact of COVID-19. Patients who will be affected by this will be contacted by the hospital as soon as possible.

  4. What did you tell us about Trafford General Hospital?

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    During May to June 2019 we asked our Trafford Healthwatch 100 panel for their views of the services available at Trafford General Hospital and the future of the hospital.

  5. FAQs about the NHS Long-term plan

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    The NHS faces a growing demand for its services. More people have long-term conditions for which they need ongoing support. Illnesses linked to inequality and to lifestyle choices are also adding to the pressure on the NHS.

  6. Wythenshawe Hospital Consultation

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    Have your say on the Wythenshawe Hospital consultation.

  7. NHS seeks views on next steps for assessing urgent care

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    Patients, clinicians and the public are being invited to give their views on a comprehensive set of indicators for urgent care.

  8. Children and young people invited to shape the future of the ambulance service

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    Children, parents and carers are being asked to help shape the future of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) so that young patients get the best possible care.

  9. Your views on Manchester hospital trusts merger

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    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is inviting views on the anticipated merger between 2 hospital trusts in central Manchester.

  10. What do you think of North West Ambulance Service?

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    North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) is conducting an audit of its reputation to help the organisation understand what its staff, public, patients and partners think about it.

  11. Your chance to get involved with genomic medicine!

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    Would you like to join a new patient and public panel?

  12. CQC publishes report on child and adolescent mental health wards at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

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    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report following an inspection of the child and adolescent mental health wards (CAMHS) provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in January.

  13. LGBT Cancer Awareness Workshops in Trafford

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    Did you know that there’s a lack of robust data about cancer in the LGBTQI+ community? Do you feel that health research doesn’t represent your experiences? Are you interested in calling for more health research to involve LGBTQI+ people?

  14. Work is needed to reduce pressure on urgent and emergency care services across Lancashire and South Cumbria following CQC inspections

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    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found work is needed to reduce pressure on urgent and emergency care services across Lancashire and South Cumbria. This follows a series of coordinated inspections which took place throughout March and April.

  15. Service update: Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit

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    This briefing from NHS Greater Manchester updates you on a forthcoming Trafford Urgent Care Review by request of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and a decision in relation to reviewing the Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit.

  16. [CLOSED] How do you feel about health and social care services in Trafford?

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    It’s almost the end of the year, so we want to look back and see how things have been going.

  17. CQC tells Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to make significant improvements

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    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report following an inspection of services provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

  18. Healthwatch England's response to the latest NHS elective care waiting times

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    Figures from NHS England show 7.2 million people were waiting to start routine treatment at the end of October, up from 7.1 million in September. Read our response.

  19. Industrial Strike Action Patient Information (Updated Jan 23)

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    Information from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.

  20. NHS cuts elective backlog with longest waiters - Healthwatch England's response

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    NHS cuts elective backlog with longest waiters down a quarter in one month. Read the response.

  21. Information and advice for the public ahead of industrial action by junior doctors

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    Industrial action by junior doctors and dentists working in hospitals is taking place for 72 hours from 7am on Monday March 12th to 7am on Thursday March 16th and will impact all hospitals across Greater Manchester and some GP services

  22. Latest Information on Strike Action- update from North West Ambulance Service

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    In the North West Ambulance Service region, the GMB, Unison and Unite unions balloted their members for industrial action and met the legal threshold to take action.

  23. NHS doctors industrial action - Healthwatch England's response

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    With junior doctors staging a four-day strike, Healthwatch England urge all parties involved to find a resolution.

  24. Public information and advice ahead of Royal College of Nursing Strikes

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    Industrial action by members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is taking place for 48 hours continuously from 8pm on 30 April to 8pm on 2 May.

  25. Junior doctors' strike June 2023: information and advice

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    Junior doctors at all NHS hospitals across Greater Manchester are planning to strike from 6.59am on Wednesday June 14th until 7am on Saturday June 17th.

  26. Strike action July 2023: information and advice

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    NHS Greater Manchester is warning residents to expect a significant impact on services later this week when junior doctors at all the city region’s NHS hospitals plan to strike (7am on Thursday 13 July until 7am on Tuesday 18 July).

  27. Vulnerable newborns at Manchester hospitals are first to benefit from rollout of genetic test to prevent hearing loss

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    An innovative genetic test that can help prevent newborn babies from going deaf if treated with a common antibiotic, is now being used in routine clinical practice in maternity settings at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).

  28. Statement from Healthwatch in Greater Manchester concerning chemical leaks in NHS hospitals

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    A statement following the publication of findings by the Liberal Democrats showing a number of chemical leaks in NHS hospitals over the previous year.

  29. Strike action August 2023: information and advice

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    Junior doctors are planning to strike from 7am on Friday 11 August until 7am on Tuesday 15 August.
    Consultant doctors will be taking strike action from 7am on Thursday 24 August until 7am on Saturday 26 August.

  30. Get help from 111.nhs.uk during August Bank Holiday and Consultant Strike.

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    Updates on bank holiday care from North West Ambulance Service.

  31. NHS to introduce Martha's rule for hospital patients - our response

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    We have welcomed the introduction of Martha's rule for hospital patients.

  32. [CLOSED] HW100: Autumn/Winter survey

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    It's that time of year again: our Autumn/Winter snapshot survey is now out!

  33. Barriers and inequalities in cervical screening

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    From the Healthwatch England blog.

  34. NHS to roll out ‘Martha’s Rule’

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    NHS England has today announced the rollout of ‘Martha’s Rule’ in hospitals across England from April, enabling patients and families to seek an urgent review if their condition deteriorates.

  35. COVID-19 vaccine – one year on: ‘heroes who’ve moved heaven and earth’ credited with saving up to 8000 lives

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    Tributes are being paid today to the ‘extraordinary’ people who’ve set up and delivered Greater Manchester’s Covid-19 vaccination push, getting almost five million jabs into arms in just 12 months.

  36. Many women still positive about their maternity care – but pandemic impacted on choice and involvement and increased concerns about postnatal support

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    The majority of women who gave birth in February last year were positive about the maternity care they received. But the impact of the pandemic has led to poorer experiences for some, and exacerbated concerns around the quality of postnatal care, according to a national survey by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

  37. How has lockdown affected people’s mental health and dignity?

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    New research highlights the challenges faced by health and social care services in England and the importance of giving feedback to help improve care.

  38. Increased stability in social care and real collaboration across health and care key to mitigating risk of “tsunami of unmet need”

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    The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England looks at the quality of care over the past year – the first of these reports to cover a full year of the pandemic.

  39. Healthwatch Trafford publish new report on Long COVID support

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    Healthwatch Trafford have published a report looking at people’s understanding and experiences of Long COVID, and what resources and support are available.

  40. COVID-19 in Trafford: 2021 update

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    Halthwatch Trafford have released a follow-up report looking at the experiences of health and social care services during the period of the coronavirus pandemic.

  41. Two thirds of carers do not see lower standards of care during the Covid-19 crisis as acceptable

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    New research published today by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) shows that two thirds of unpaid carers view a lower standard of care during the Covid-19 crisis as unacceptable, despite the massive pressures that care services and carers are under.

  42. Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities, warns Healthwatch

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    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows 55% of adults in the North West find dental charges unfair amid escalating costs of living.

  43. Etihad Mass Vaccination Centre to Close Doors

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    After 19 months and nearly half a million Covid-19 jabs given, Greater Manchester’s mass vaccination centre will be closing its doors. The final vaccination will be given at the centre, housed at the Manchester Tennis and Football Centre on the Etihad Campus, on Tuesday August 30th.

  44. The boys are back in person: face-to-face GP appointments reach new high since February 2020

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    Following a challenging couple of years of remote consultations, the number of people accessing in-person GP care is increasing according to the NHS.

  45. Protect yourself and prevent serious illness this winter: get vaccinated!

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    Have you had your winter vaccines yet?