Just what the doctor ordered

City region to get 53,000 extra GP appointments in bid to battle 'quad-demic'

- HELENA VESTY

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

The NHS is bracing for a 'quaddemic, 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 just released.

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 10 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.