Greater Manchester hospitals issue urgent messages - as true impact of 'quad-demic' revealed with cold weather

Greater Manchester’s hospitals are being hit hard as flu takes over the country – with two hospitals sending out urgent messages to the public this morning alone (Monday, January 6).

Face masks are being brought back in one Greater Manchester hospital, as it is hit with a wave of viruses and infections. While another hospital in the region warned of severe pressure on its A&E.

Meanwhile, senior NHS sources on the frontline have told of how – even in the days before Christmas and this weekend’s cold snap – Greater Manchester’s emergency departments have been seriously struggling. It comes as the country faces what the NHS says is a 'tidal wave' of Covid-19, flu, RSV and norovirus, also dubbed a ‘quad-demic’ by NHS chiefs.

The NHS has warned it could be seeing its worst ever winter flu season as cases continue to soar, with Greater Manchester seeing almost three times the number of people in hospital with flu compared to this time last year.

The Royal Bolton Hospital has announced today (January 6) that it will be reintroducing face masks in patient areas. The ruling means that all staff, patients and visitors have to wear surgical face masks in inpatient areas from today.

"Royal Bolton Hospital is introducing face masks in patient areas to prevent the spread of viruses and infection," said a spokesperson for the Royal Bolton Hospital today.

"The hospital has seen a high number of flu cases in recent weeks, with 42 patients in the hospital with flu on Thursday 2 January, up from an average of seven in September.

"To address this, all staff, patients and visitors are being asked to wear fluid repellent surgical face masks in inpatient areas from Monday 6 January.

"Supplies of face masks are available throughout the