Greater Manchester gets 53,000 extra GP appointments amid NHS 'quad-demic' fears

Greater Manchester is set to get 53,000 extra GP appointments as winter pressure mounts on the NHS.

The NHS is bracing for a 'quad-demic', with a 350% increase in flu cases and an 86% rise in norovirus cases in hospitals compared to this time last year. The huge increases also come with fears about rising Covid-19 and RSV levels in hospitals, according to new weekly figures released today.

This winter, NHS Greater Manchester says it is providing tens of thousands of additional GP appointments through 'winter surge hubs'. Introduced last year, the winter surge hubs aim to meet seasonal pressures to help GP practices across all ten areas of Greater Manchester, by providing additional appointments between November and March.

Winter weather, particularly cold air, can affect anyone with long-term lung illnesses, says the region's NHS. During winter, people with lung conditions are much more likely to end up feeling unwell as seasonal triggers like cold weather, colds, coughs, flu, and damp can make it harder to breathe.

READ MORE: NHS fears 'quad-demic' as hospitals battle record levels of this illness and health chiefs warn public to do one thing

New weekly figures released today reveal that the NHS is facing unprecedented pressure this winter both in the community served by GPs and pharmacies, and in hospitals. On average, there were 1,099 people in hospital with flu every day last week, compared to 243 in the same week last year – the highest number of cases heading into winter for at least three years.

Record numbers of patients are in hospital for this time of year, with an average of 96,587 hospital beds occupied each day – more than at this point in any other year – with pressure expected to increase further in