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This site is for Greater Manchester residents who want to find out more about how health and care services are run in their borough, and what decisions are being made across the region.
For appointments, prescriptions, and services near you, your first point of call should be your local GP or chemist, which you can find by searching here.
Enter the first part of your postcode only.
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Children’s Services
There is a range of services in place specifically for children, this includes self care advice, early help and neighbourhood support for children and families, children’s community nursing team, children and young people’s mental health.
For more information go to children’s services in Greater Manchester to find out what your locality can offer you.
Some people with long-term complex or unpredictable healthcare needs qualify for free social care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. This is known as NHS continuing healthcare (CHC). Find out more about CHC, who is eligible and how it works.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone. This is known as Long COVID, or post-COVID syndrome.
Long COVID does not always go away, it is a condition that needs assessment and treatment. It is important for you to seek help if you need it.
For information about the support and services available in Greater Manchester take a look at our Long COVID page.
Dental care
If you have pain in your mouth, teeth or gums, you will need to contact a dentist – your GP practice won’t be able to help.
Contact your regular dentist, if you have one. If they’re closed, or you do not have a regular dentist, call the Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Care Service on 0333 332 3800. Please be aware that this service is very busy so you may need to wait, and they cannot provide routine check-ups.
The service is available from 8am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays. When you call, you will be assessed by a healthcare professional who can provide self-care advice or book a face-to-face appointment, if needed.
You can access this service in a number of locations across Greater Manchester. Choose the one that is most convenient for you, but it’s unlikely to be your regular dental practice.
Patients are not registered with a dentist in the same way as they are with a GP so, if you need a check-up or dental treatment, you can go to a practice outside your local community.
Accident and Emergency
Only go to A&E if it’s an emergency. People with the most serious conditions will be seen first, so you may need to wait.
Only call 999 if someone’s life is at risk and you can’t get to a hospital
NHS 111
If you’re not sure what to do or where to go visit NHS 111. It’s available 24/7, 365 days a year.
NHS 111 can help you;
- find out how to get the right healthcare in your area, including whether you need to see a GP or seek urgent care
- get advice on self-care
GP out of hours
Most GP practices are open 8am-6.30pm. The GP out-of-hours service is there when your GP practice is closed.
For more information call your GP practice in the usual way and listen to the recorded message.
Before you make an appointment to see your GP, think about what other services might be able to help, such as your local pharmacy (chemist or NHS 111.
Other urgent help
Find out more about:
- Mental health (if there is an immediate risk of danger to life, you should ring 999)
- Urgent dental treatment
- Urgent eye treatment
What is Enhanced Access?
To put it simply, it’s an extension of your general practice. Enhanced Access offers pre-bookable urgent and routine appointments outside of core contractual hours.
- Same-day or pre-booked weekday evenings and Saturday appointments
- Face-to-face and remote (telephone and video) appointments
- A range of clinical staff including GPs offering different appointments
- Flexible appointment times, outside of traditional working hours
- Local healthcare professionals delivering care at the right time to meet your needs
What is changing?
Appointments may be offered by your GP practice during Enhanced Access hours.
This gives patients more choice and flexibility about the time and location of their appointment, making accessing appointments easier.
What can I expect from the service?
While you can already access GP appointments outside of your practice’s main opening hours, this service enables you to not only see a GP but also a wide range of other clinical staff. These include a practice nurse, advance nurse practitioner who can prescribe medication, and phlebotomist for taking bloods.
Furthermore, patients can expect a mixture of face to face and remote consultations, ensuring the service is accessible to all.
When attending your appointment you may not be seen by the clinical staff from your registered practice. However, all healthcare professionals can access your medical records, with your consent.
List of enhanced access services in each locality in Greater Manchester.
GP practices have remained open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic; you may want to contact your GP practice about minor short-term problems that have lasted longer than they expected or keep coming back; as well as support to manage long-term conditions.
Many practices are now working in a different way, asking patients to get in touch online initially (where possible) and operating a triage (order of treatment) system to ensure patients with more urgent concerns are prioritised, including for a face-to-face appointment.
Online services don’t replace contacting your GP practice by phone rather they are another helpful, fast and convenient way to get in touch.
Practices are also now employing a growing mix of skilled professionals to ensure a range of expertise is available to diagnose and treat health conditions.
Find out how to register with a GP practice on the NHS website.
The Care Gateway team
- Manage GP referrals for patients registered with a GP practice in Manchester.
- Organise non–emergency patient transport for eligible patients in Manchester, Salford and Stockport.
- Book community phlebotomy appointments for South Manchester patients (where their GP doesn’t have the capacity to do so).
- Book COVID-19 vaccinations
Click here for more information about the Care Gateway and referrals.
Healthwatch information and signposting services can support you to make choices about the health and care services you may need and how to access the support you need to live well within your local area. They can provide help over the phone, by email and in some circumstances face to face, and will also listen to feedback about patient experience so they can help providers of health and social care improve services.
Healthwatch services in Greater Manchester
Bolton
Healthwatch Bolton Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. Telephone: 01204 394603, text: 0789 3943577, email: info@healthwatchbolton.co.uk or write to: Healthwatch Bolton, PO Box 822, Wigan, WN1 9XF.
Bury
Healthwatch Bury is located at Bridge House Yeargate Industrial Estate, Heap Bridge, Heywood, Bury BL9 7HS. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 4pm. Telephone: 0161 253 6300 or email: info@healthwatchbury.co.uk.
Manchester
Healthwatch Manchester is located at Bass Warehouse, First Floor, Railway Cottage Railway Cottage, behind, Castle St, Manchester M3 4LZ. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am – 6pm. Telephone: 0300 078 0669.
Oldham
Healthwatch Oldham is located at Action Together CIO, Medtia Place, 80 Union Street, Oldham, OL1 1DJ. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Telephone: 0161 622 5700 or email: info@healthwatcholdham.co.uk.
Rochdale
Healthwatch Rochdale is located at Suite 5, No. 2 The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AE. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. Telephone: 01706 249 575 or email: info@healthwatchrochdale.org.uk.
Salford
Healthwatch Salford is located at Healthwatch Salford, Old Town Hall, Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. Telephone: 0330 355 0300 or email: info@healthwatchsalford.co.uk.
Stockport
Healthwatch Stockport is located at Land o Cakes, 48 Middle Hillgate, Stockport, SK1 3DL. Telephone: 0161 974 0753, text: 07871 089100 (This is a text only line), email: info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk.
Tameside
Healthwatch Tameside is located at 95 Penny Meadow, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6EP. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9am to 10pm. Bank holiday hours may differ. Telephone: 0161 667 2526.
Healthwatch Derbyshire is located at Riverside Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Milford, Belper DE56 0RN. Opening hours: 9am – 4.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and from 9am – 4pm on Fridays. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Telephone: 01773 880786.
Trafford
Healthwatch Trafford. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm. Telephone: 0300 999 0303, email: info@healthwatchtrafford.co.uk or write to: 12-14 Shaw’s Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1QU.
Wigan
Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh is located at: Ashland House, Dobson Park Way, Wigan, WN2 2DX. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. Telephone: 01942 834666 or email: info@healthwatchwiganandleigh.co.uk.
The Greater Manchester (GM) Individual Funding Request (IFR) Service supports NHS organisations across Greater Manchester to ensure that people across the whole of Greater Manchester are able to access treatments in a fair and equitable manner. It manages the funding approval process when a clinician on behalf of a patient wishes to request funding for a treatment which is not routinely available on the NHS.
If you’re feeling low, anxious, stressed or overwhelmed there are lots of things you can do to lift your mood.
Try taking a walk, talking to a family member or friend or doing something relaxing like reading a book or listening to music. However, there may be times when you may need a bit of extra help. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK.
To help your mental health and wellbeing, you can access free self-help advice and support:
- SilverCloud is a confidential and secure series of programmes to help ease stress, sleep better or build resilience.
- Access safe and anonymous professional support online 24/7 from Kooth (ages 10 to 25) or Qwell (ages 26 and over). There are no waiting lists and no referral is needed.
- The Greater Manchester Bereavement Service is available for anyone who has been bereaved or affected by a death by whatever cause, no matter how long ago. Visit the website or call 0161 983 0902.
You can contact your GP practice and let them know how you’re feeling. It may be tough to begin with, but your GP can refer you for counselling and other talking therapies that can really help.
For more details of mental health support where you live, go to Greater Manchester mental health support hub.
Crisis helplines in Greater Manchester
If you need mental health advice and support urgently, there are freephone 24/7 crisis helplines for all areas of Greater Manchester.
- Bolton, Manchester, Salford, Trafford and Wigan: 0800 953 0285
- Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport, and Tameside and Glossop: 0800 014 9995
Shining a Light on Suicide is there for you, whether you’re feeling suicidal, worried someone else is or have lost someone to suicide. Whatever you’re going through, you can get the advice and support you need.
If it’s an emergency and you’re worried you can’t keep yourself safe, go to your nearest A&E or call 999 if you can’t make it to a hospital.
Your local pharmacist can help you with many common conditions, health advice and over the counter medication where needed. Patients who present with the minor ailments or conditions listed could be treated quicker or more conveniently through self-care and visiting their pharmacist.
High Temperature
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If your child under 3-months-old is suffering from a high temperature
- If you have a temperature above 40C
Conjunctivitis
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If the patient is a child under 2-years-old
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- If you had eye surgery or laser treatment in the past six months
- If you have a family history of severe blood disorders
- If you recently returned from abroad
- If you have a history of hypersensitivity to chloramphenicol or to any other ingredient within the preparation
- If you have not responded to treatment of this episode of conjunctivitis
Coughs
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If you are suffering from chest pain, shortness of breath, chest tightness, unexplained weight loss, a cough of sudden onset, recurrent coughs/cough exceeding 2 weeks without improvement or a wheezy cough
- If you have asthma
- If you are coughing up foul/discoloured/blood stained or frothy sputum.
- If the patients is under 6 years of age
- Painful calf
- Failure of OTC remedy to improve symptoms
Hay fever
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If the patient is under 6-years-old.
- If you are pregnant.
Headache
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If you have a child under 12-years-old who is suffering from a headache
- If you are suffering from migraines
- If you are having a suspected adverse reaction to a drug
- If you have headaches following injury or trauma to the head
Head lice
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If you have head lice and the treatment has failed
- If you have a child under 6-months-old who has head lice
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- If you are the family of a patient who is not proven to be infected
Nasal congestion
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If you are suffering from recurrent nosebleeds
- If you have chronic sinusitis
- If patient is under 6-years-old.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- If you have co-existing cardiovascular/respiratory disease.
Threadworm
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If the patient is under 2-years-old.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Sore throat
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If you have a child younger than 16-years-old with a sore throat
- If you’re in one of the ‘at-risk’ groups
- If you have trouble swallowing
- If you have oral thrush
Athlete’s foot
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If an infection is present and nails are involved
- If you also have diabetes
- If the inflammation and itching is severe
- If it has spread beyond your toes
- If there is no improvement within a few weeks after self-treatment
Vaginal thrush
However, please contact your GP in the following instances:
- If the patient is under 16-years-old
- If you are over 60-years-old with the condition
- If you are pregnant
- If a previous course of treatment has failed
- If your medical issue isn’t listed above please contact your GP as soon as possible.
If you are suffering from a minor ailment find a local pharmacy.
Optician services
You’ll find a number of different eyecare professionals at your local opticians (also known as optometrists).
They are all eye experts and are there to help keep your eyes healthy. They can also make sure you have the right glasses or contact lenses, if you need them.
You should have an eye test at least every two years, even if you don’t wear glasses. An eye test can help to spot problems or conditions like glaucoma or cataracts earlier.
Greater Manchester’s Urgent Eyecare Service
This service is suitable for patients experiencing a range of recently occurring conditions such as a sudden loss of vision, red or painful eyes or eyelids, flashes and floaters or a foreign body in the eye.
The service is available to anyone registered with a Greater Manchester GP practice and aims to deliver quick community-based assessments and treatment from local optician teams and can avoid a GP visit or attending a hospital A&E department.
The service is available throughout the week and, in some places, at weekends and evenings. Always call first as this is not a walk-in service.
A Personal Health Budget is an amount of money to support your health and wellbeing needs. It is planned and agreed between you (or someone who represents you) and your local NHS team.
Community Pharmacy
Lots of illnesses can be managed safely at home, or with a trip to a local pharmacist.
This includes things like nappy rash, hay fever, head lice, dandruff, oral thrush, teething and warts.
Your local pharmacist can give advice on lots of health issues and there’s no need for an appointment.
More than 95% of community pharmacies now have a private consultation room from which they can offer advice to patients and a range of services.
Check the August bank holiday pharmacy opening times.
Find out more about pharmacies on the NHS website.
If you’re concerned about the safety of a young person or adult with vulnerabilities using our services, please take a look at our safeguarding information.
Social prescribing is help that doesn’t come in a pill, tube or bottle!
Life can be hard and things can get in the way of you being able to live well, but support is available from health and care professionals in your local community.
For example, you might feel happier and healthier if you get out for a regular walk with others, do something creative, volunteer or have a say on the things that matter to you and your local community.
Sometimes is easy to do these things. But sometimes you might need a little help to find out more about the support and opportunities out there.
Many children and young people who have additional needs require support from a range of services, including health.
Find out more about the services and support available in your area for children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.
Surgical hubs have been set up in Greater Manchester hospitals to offer people quicker access to surgery. They are a key part of our plans to address waiting list backlogs for planned hospital services.
There are surgical hubs available for adults as well as children and young people and eligible patients will be contacted by their hospital directly. They will offer people the most routine types of surgery where an overnight stay in hospital is not needed.
Visit our surgical hubs web page for more information about these services.
Find out what transport support is available to help you get to your health appointments.
On our page you will find:
- Information to help you plan a journey by public transport
- Information on help with travel costs
- Transport services provided across Greater Manchester
- Community Transport services provided in different parts of Greater Manchester
Click here for more information.
Vaccinations – don’t let flu and COVID-19 ruin your winter
Respiratory infections like flu and COVID-19 circulate more in colder weather.
Flu and COVID-19 can be unpleasant. But for many people, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. Catching both viruses over winter increases the risk of serious illness even further.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to get peace of mind, and keep yourself and those around you healthy this winter.
Find out if you are eligible and how to get your jab:
Last updated 29 September 2023
