Revealed: how Covid-19 is impacting Manchester trams, NHS and emergency services through high staff absences

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has warned the city-region faces a challenging January due to the impact of Covid-19 on public services.

At his latest press briefing on Wednesday (5 January) Mr Burnham said a combination of staff absences, high case rates, issues with the health and care systems and question marks over testing all mean there could be a few tough weeks ahead for frontline sectors.

He criticised the Government’s comment about ‘riding’ Omicron out, saying it sounded too complacent, and called on ministers to do more to promote working from home.

However, he said that the situation was not “doom and gloom” and said Greater Manchester public services were drawing up plans to keep running.

How high are staff absence levels due to Covid-19 in Greater Manchester?

Mr Burnham said the latest figures show staff absences are currently at around 15% in the NHS, 9.5% in Greater Manchester Police (GMP), 13.8% for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and 13% for Metrolink tram drivers.

However, Mr Burnham said the biggest impact from Covid at the moment is being felt in social care.

He said that while NHS bed occupancy is just under 90%, some 650 people are currently in beds in Greater Manchester’s hospitals despite being medically fit to be discharged.

He said around half of the city-region’s care homes are currently unable to take any new residents.

And he called on the Government to urgently turn its attention to providing extra support for social care to help take some of the pressure off hospitals.

However, Mr Burnham also said there is some flexibility and capacity in the system for more hospital beds to be used if the need arises.

‘A very challenging month ahead’

Mr Burnham said the presentation to local leaders on Wednesday morning about the latest Covid-19 situation had been “sobering” and criticised the attitude implied in Government ministers’ words about it.

He said: “It is a very challenging month ahead of us, no-one is in any doubt about that.

“Staff haven’t had much of a Christmas or New Year break and there are lots of levels of fatigue.

“We were all of a view that we wouldn’t use the phrase ‘ride it out’ because that isn’t necessarily going to be possible. We think we need to be more cognisant of how challenging this might be.

“We need to have our eyes wide open to what could lie ahead in the rest of January and see the real risks to the continuity of provision of some of our critical public services.”

Mr Burnham also said the Government needed to give out far stronger messages on the need for people who can to work from home.

He said all council and local government business and meetings should move online immediately.

“As it stands council meetings and committees will have to meet in person, and we don’t believe that is setting the right example,” he said.

What did Mr Burnham say about testing?

Mr Burnham said he welcomed changes to the testing system which will mean asymptomatic people do not need a PCR test, which could ultimately allow them to be released from self-isolation quicker.

He hoped this would help the NHS in particular as it would free up PCR testing and lab capacity for those vital front line health roles.

He also expressed frustration at “patchy” lateral flow test availability and issues with getting PCR tests over the festive and New Year period, saying delays in getting tested could be contributing to staff absence levels.

What did Mr Burnham say about Greater Manchester hospitals cancelling some non-urgent procedures?

Mr Burnham also reflected on the move by 17 Greater Manchester hospitals on Tuesday night to cancel some of their non-urgent surgeries and procedures.

He acknowledged that this would be frustrating and worrying for patients affected across the city-region, but urged them not to ring their GP or hospital, wait to be contacted and head for their appointments as scheduled if they do not hear from the NHS.

Mr Burnham stressed it was a temporary move and one that will be regularly reviewed and lifted as soon as possible.

However, he said hospitals faced a complicated picture with Covid-19 in winter, when the NHS frequently faces difficult decisions about elective surgery and waiting lists.

He said: “This is not a decision anybody wants to take but it is one the NHS often does have to take to protect emergency services, particularly at this time of year.”

What about schools going back?

Another element of complexity to add to the picture is the return of Greater Manchester’s schools this week, something which has already drawn concern from teaching unions.

Mr Burnham said Greater Manchester authorities expect the next few weeks to be challenging for schools too, but said they did not want to see children all having to learn from home again.

He urged Ofsted to cancel its scheduled visits to give schools more breathing space to deal with the pressures Covid is bringing and again expressed concern over what shortages of tests might mean for headteachers trying to battle staff absences.

How is Greater Manchester preparing to face January?

Mr Burnham stressed that while the situation the city-region faces is difficult it is important not to over-react to it.

He said Greater Manchester is getting ready to fight through the next few weeks while keeping front line services running, and paid lavish tribute to the efforts the workforce is putting in to make that happen.

He said: “This isn’t doom and gloom. People are doing a brilliant job and we have got plans in place to get through this.

“People are doing everything to rise to this challenge and we are confident we can get through this.

“It is a difficult picture overall but there is no wish to rush to restrictions, that’s not where people are.

“The mood in Greater Manchester is vigilant and concerned.”

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