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 7 February 2025
Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of our Partnership Update from the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (GM ICP). This monthly bulletin is an overview of the work underway across our health and care system; the progress being made and any key developments.
A message from Andy Burnham
Hello everyone,
It’s been another month with Greater Manchester in the spotlight – not least due to Government backing for the regeneration of the area around Old Trafford football stadium. Of course, this is just one of six growth locations for GM which form part of a ten-year plan to deliver growth and tens of thousands of new jobs and homes for our residents.
Good health and wellbeing is, in part, down to the environments in which we live and work – and I hope that once these ambitious projects begin to take shape, we will see the benefits of that.
One of the things I was proud to hear during the past couple of weeks was what we’re doing in GM to prevent poor health in our city region, particularly regarding mental health.
A partnership between NHS Greater Manchester, Kooth and Transport for Greater Manchester has been shortlisted for the most impactful partnership in the preventative healthcare category, of the Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards.
We were the first UK region to provide digital mental health support to all our residents – approximately two million people aged 10 and above – and the work we’re doing to promote this has been recognised. You can read more below.
We’re also leading the way in dementia diagnosis rates, according to new statistics, which is testament to the incredible work being done between our health and care partners in GM – well done to all involved,
Andy Burnham
Co-chair, Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
Mayor of Greater Manchester
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Each month we are updating on the key successes from NHS GM as we continue to make significant strides towards improving health services and the health of the population.
Recovering core NHS and care services continues to be key and latest data from November 2024 shows long hospital waits are dropping fast. 0.1% of the national 65-week waiting list is GM, compared to 2.3% in November 2023, meaning we’ve improved from 41 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) up to 20/42. The 28-Day Faster Diagnosis Standard - patients with suspected cancer referred for urgent cancer checks diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days – has improved to 16th, compared to 24 out of 42 nationally last year, while the percentage of diagnostic tests completed within six weeks has seen GM’s ranking rise from 32nd up to 16th.
Our first Community Pharmacy Independent Prescriber (IP) Pathfinder site is live, with the remaining nine sites going live over the next month or so. Amul Mistry, IP at Well Pharmacy in Lees, Oldham, wrote his first NHS prescription on Tuesday 14 January. This marks the culmination of two years of hard work in GM setting up the infrastructure and governance around independent prescribing in community pharmacy.
41 practices across GM have participated in the General Practice Improvement programme in 2024/25 - the highest uptake in the North West. The programme helps practices implement better digital telephone, online and face to face access to improve the patient journey, access and experience of care. 90 GM optometry practices are engaged in delivery of a CVD pilot for Hypertension Case Finding. This extends the opportunity of screening and prevention through our primary care services, building on existing services in community pharmacy.
We are the top performing region in the North West for dementia diagnosis, and second best in England (see full story below). Our Out of Area Placements (mental health) have reduced from more than 100 in April 2024 to just 14, as of 25 January 2025. Our Urgent Community Response referrals achieving the 2-hour standard was 89%, above the 70% national standard, ranking NHS GM 10th out of 42 nationally. The number of children and young people receiving at least one contact from mental health services was 54,655, above the 2024/25 target of 54,310 (latest data: October 2024).
Greater Manchester is setting the standard for dementia diagnosis, being the top performing region in the North West for dementia diagnosis and second best in the whole of England.
The latest figures from NHS Digital show that 75% of people in Greater Manchester aged 65 or over who are estimated to be living with dementia, had a recorded diagnosis of dementia in November 2024 – significantly above the national NHS targets. Early diagnosis of dementia is life changing. It helps individuals and their families understand the condition, make informed decisions about care, and access the support they need to live well.
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Ellie Palma-Cass is a founder of a suicide prevention organisation, author and an award-winning public speaker. She is supporting the NHS Greater Manchester (GM) Shining a Light on Suicide campaign, by sharing her personal experiences of living with thoughts of suicide. It coincides with national Time to Talk Day (6 February), which aims to encourage conversation about mental health.
Wigan-based Ellie had a difficult childhood and began experiencing suicidal thoughts at the age of 12. It is something that followed her into adulthood. As a mum of two young children, Ellie came close to taking her own life when feelings of hopelessness threatened to overwhelm her.
Ellie said: “I suffered a lot of trauma and things that went wrong in my childhood and teen years. Suicidal thoughts really followed me through most of my young adult life. It was always so powerful. It was like a big black dark cloud upon me.
“By the time I got to 30, that’s when I hit rock bottom. I just thought ‘I can’t do this anymore and I’ve got to end it’; I wanted to take my life.
“I was so close to it, and I just cried out for help. I spoke to close friends. With their help and help from my GP I very slowly came back from that place.”
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With half-term approaching, NHS Greater Manchester is urging parents to take simple steps to keep their children healthy and if they do become poorly, to get the right care without unnecessary trips to A&E. Many common childhood illnesses can be effectively managed at home or through local NHS services such as community pharmacies.
Look out for early symptoms and you can manage them at home, or with NHS support:
- Coughs and colds are usually mild and can be managed with rest and fluids.
- A raised temperature is natural response to infection, use children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen as needed. If a child under 3 months has a temperature over 38°C, or if a child over 3 months has a temperature above 39°C, seek medical advice. Your GP can help or NHS 111 when the GP is closed.
- Sore throats are often viral and can be soothed with warm drinks and honey (for children over one year old).
- Ear discomfort, usually following coughs and colds, often clears up on its own and can be relieved with painkillers.
- If a child has an upset stomach, make sure they drink plenty of water and encourage regular handwashing to prevent germs spreading.
Dr Manisha Kumar, chief medical officer for NHS Greater Manchester, said: "We know that winter bugs are still making the rounds and it's natural for parents and carers to worry when their child is unwell. However, many common illnesses can be treated at home or with the help of a pharmacist, without the need for an A&E visit. By using NHS 111, Pharmacy First, and GP services, families can get the right care quickly and easily.”
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is entering its fourth phase of disaggregating North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) services, previously held by the Pennine Acute NHS Hospital Trust. The fourth phase of service disaggregation takes place on Monday 31 March 2025 and relates to Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) services. This means that patients will receive an end-to-end service from a single provider, rather than split across both MFT and NCA.
The following changes will apply for patients under the care of MFT:
- All outpatient T&O services will be provided at NMGH
- Daycase surgery will be provided at NMGH rather than Fairfield General Hospital (FGH)
- Inpatient surgery will be provided at the Manchester Orthopaedic Centre, at Trafford General Hospital
- Trauma pathways for patients attending Fairfield General Hospital (FGH) A&E will be realigned from NMGH to Royal Oldham Hospital (ROH)
To find out more about what is changing and what this means for GPs, patients and everyone involved you can read more below.
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Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to announce the opening of a new Breast Imaging Examination Room within Leigh Infirmary’s new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) facility.
This new ‘one-stop-clinic’ enables patients to be seen, examined and have imaging scans performed during one visit at Leigh Infirmary, reducing travel time and costs for Leigh-based patients who previously would have needed to visit the breast screening centre at the Thomas Linacre Centre (TLC) in Wigan. It also means that WWL can offer an increased capacity so that a higher volume of patients can be seen to help meet current and future demand.
Accessed via urgent referrals, patients must first be seen by their GP to access the clinic should they experience any symptoms such as lumps in the breast tissue, nipple discharge and changes to their breast, including pain.
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A baby receiving care in Royal Bolton Hospital’s Neonatal Unit has become one of the first to benefit from a groundbreaking gene test which aims to prevent lifelong hearing loss.
Royal Bolton was one of the first hospitals to go live with the cutting edge Genedrive System, which uses a cheek swab to rapidly detect potential genetic mutations which can cause permanent hearing loss in babies when they are given aminoglycoside antibiotics.
The system means babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with sepsis are rapidly tested and given an alternative antibiotic if they are positive, avoiding a lifetime of deafness.
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A new six-month pilot is being launched in Oldham and Stockport to improve the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes among children and young people.
Starting in April, new ways of referring and caring for children who are either at risk of developing the condition, or already have symptoms, but have not used health services, will be rolled out in the two Greater Manchester boroughs.
The pilot aims to reduce health inequalities across GM.
It is being run by the Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Strategic Clinical Networks (GMEC SCNs), headed by clinical lead Dr Chris Cooper, and partner ABL Health.
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The NHS has launched a campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) - specialist services that offer free care and support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused at any time in their life.
And this Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week (3-9 February), we're reminding everyone that, in Greater Manchester, St Mary’s sexual assault referral centre (SARC) provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated forensic, counselling and aftercare service to those living in the city region, whether this experience happened recently or in the past.
It is available 24/7 across England, however, many sexual assault and abuse survivors do not know where to go or who to turn to for help. We also know that some people are put off seeking help due to thinking they need to speak to the police.
Help is available from a SARC without having to talk to the police or report what happened. The SARC team will make sure that anyone visiting their service understands their options and gets the support they choose in a place where they are safe.
If you have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused and don't know where to turn, find out more at St Mary's Centre or by calling 0161 276 6515. You can also search ‘sexual assault referral centres’ for more information or visit www.nhs.uk/SARCs to find your nearest centre.
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National HIV Testing week starts Monday 10 February. It is an annual event to promote regular testing in England and aims to significantly reduce the number of individuals living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late, in particular the most affected population groups; gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and heterosexuals of Black African ethnicity.
The PaSH (Passionate about Sexual Health) partnership is increasing HIV testing opportunities by offering drop in sessions in various community venues across Greater Manchester. This ensures accessibility and convenience for communities to prioritise their sexual health. You can view the full testing schedule here.
If you are unable to drop in there is also the opportunity to book ahead:
For Greater Manchester residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds:
- Test for all STIs at any of our community clinics
- Order a 'Home HIV testing kit' for testing from the comfort of your own home
- Residents of Manchester, Trafford, and Salford can order a 'Home RAPID HIV Test' with results available in just one minute
To book or order an HIV test for these services, visit www.thebha.org.uk/hivtesting
For LGBT Greater Manchester residents:
- Order a Home HIV and STI testing kit
- Attend an appointment or drop in for a RAPID HIV test
To book or order an HIV test for these services, visit http://www.lgbt.foundation/testing
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The Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) have announced the launch of their air pollution companion.
Following the death of Ella Kissi Debrah in 2013 a coroners report in 2021 recommended that child health professionals should communicate with their patients about the effects of air pollution.
The vision for this resource is as a ‘one-stop shop’ for all child health professionals. Whilst RCPCH represents pediatricians, this resource will also be relevant to nurses, allied health professionals, public health and the wider air pollution community.
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The partnership ran an eye catching campaign for three months on the Metrolink network. Called ‘Whatever’s on your mind’ the campaign promoted Kooth for children and young people and Qwell for adults. The campaign resulted in 34,000+ logins across Kooth and Qwell and a 36% increase in the numbers of new people registering with the services.
Greater Manchester was the first UK region to provide digital mental health support free to all residents. Accessible to approximately two million people across all the 10 localities of Greater Manchester, Kooth.com and Qwell.io offer a unique out of office hours’ provision that’s open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Both Kooth and Qwell are free, safe, and confidential, which means they provide a non-judgmental place for anyone to seek professional mental health support.
We wish everyone the best of luck for the awards ceremony in March.
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Better Health MCR, are proud to be the first Primary Care Network (PCN) in the country to achieve the Black Health Improvement Programme (BHIP) Silver Accreditation, awarded by the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN). This programme addresses long-standing health inequities, fostering inclusivity in healthcare.
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Live Well Live: online webinars
Live Well Live is a series of online monthly interactive webinars that bring Greater Manchester’s movement for community-led health and wellbeing to life. When you join you'll get to hear from inspiring people who offer community-led health and wellbeing which plays a crucial role in tackling health, social and economic inequalities. And talk about how as public services we can grow great everyday support for all.
The role of housing providers as anchors of connected neighbourhoods, Tuesday 11 February, 2pm-2.30pm. Find out more and register here.
Inclusive employment, education, and skills for thriving communities, Tuesday 25 February, 2pm-2.30pm. Find out more and register here.
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Equalities training programme
Faith and Beliefs in the Workplace, Wednesday February 12 or Thursday 20 February, 10am - 1pm
This session is an overview for policy makers and NHS employers who should be aware of best practice in supporting colleagues in practicing their faith or belief in the workplace.
Book you place here.
Leadership for Inclusion Session: Allyship
Wednesday 26 February, virtually between 12pm - 1.30pm
This session will explore the transformative power of allyship in leadership, workforce engagement, and community development. Allyship is not only about fostering inclusion but also about empowering individuals and groups, particularly those from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds to thrive and contribute fully. The discussion will examine how leaders can act as allies, creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.
To book onto this session please register here.
Cancer Research UK Talk Cancer
Wednesday 26 February, virtually between 2pm - 4pm and Thursday 6 March, 10am - 4pm at the Village Hotel, Ashton.
GM Cancer Alliance has commissioned Talk Cancer and Train the Presenter sessions from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) to train and give confidence to people in their ability to talk about cancer in their communities.
For more information and to book your place click on the links below:
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Greater Manchester best practice delirium in-person event on World Delirium Awareness Day 2025
Wednesday 12 March 2025, 9.30am - 4pm in central Manchester.
If you work frontline in primary care, mental health, hospital, adult social care, within a local care organisation or are a care provider - this event is for you!
Hosted by Dementia United the session will cover topics on: What delirium is and how to manage it; Stories from people with lived experience; Workshop focusing on how we can all improve delirium management; Good practice examples from Greater Manchester localities; Unique opportunity to hear from international colleagues from Singapore. You can find out more and book your place here
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Greater Manchester FASD Roadshow
Wednesday 12 March, 10am - 1pm, Anthony Burgess Foundation, M1 5BY
This events is aimed at anyone supporting or working with people who have FASD or suspected FASD, including parents, carers, professionals, community and voluntary organisations.
Book your place here.
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