The NHS is facing 'unprecedented' pressure as hospitals are hit with staff shortages while demand for care continues to rise in Greater Manchester.

The number of Covid patients at Salford Royal Hospital has doubled in the last two weeks, reaching levels last seen in October with 51 active cases currently.

Around nine per cent of patients at the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) hospitals in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford, have Covid – up by 13 per cent in the last seven days.

Critically-ill patients requiring surgery immediately as well as cancer treatment – which is the top priority for the NHS group – are creating additional pressure.

And an ‘unprecedented’ number of people are seeking urgent care at A&E.

At the same time, staffing levels are suffering with sickness, self-isolation and ‘tired’ staff unable to work extra shifts as they have throughout the pandemic.

Chief executive Raj Jain told the NCA’s board at a meeting on Monday (26 July) that Greater Manchester is facing ‘immense’ and ‘severe’ pressure as a system.

He said: “In the 20 years I’ve been on the board, I’ve not seen a staffing situation like this with respect to demands we have on our staff.

“Our frontline staff and managers are making really difficult decisions every shift.

“I’m just amazed that we have what would be relatively junior staff in our organisation managing stressful situations in such a professional way and having every regard for the people around them, trying to keep them safe.

“We do need to reinforce the message that’s going out to the public of only using emergency departments if you really, really need to.

“But my real message is a message of thank you to our staff.

“We are really recognising the extraordinary pressures they are facing. We know they are doing their best. We will ensure we give them the support we can to make sure they are keeping colleagues and patients as safe as we can.”

Chief medical officer Chris Brookes told the board of ‘unparalleled’ efforts by staff facing pressure in emergency departments overnight and at weekends.

On Sunday night, Salford Royal was forced to reopen a ward which had been shut down due to an outbreak of MRSA after two patients required beds urgently.

At the Royal Oldham, caring for patients in corridors is becoming ‘normalised’ as the hospital faces a long-term shortage of 55 beds, according to modelling.

And in a bid to avoid 999 calls, staff at Rochdale Care Organisation – the branch of the NCA which runs Rochdale Infirmary – were calling care homes this weekend, asking whether they were concerned about any residents.

Chief delivery officer Jude Adams told the board that the NCA is working with Greater Manchester and will respond jointly as a health care system this week.

She also presented plans in preparation for the seasonal surge in the winter.

The NCA will focus on same-day emergency care, more virtual appointments and shorter stays in hospital as part of the plan to alleviate problems with flow.

She said: “We know if we keep patients in hospital, we do more harm than we do good. All of that is additional pressure on resources in our system.”