From this week, people registered with a Bolton GP who attend the emergency department (ED) at Royal Bolton Hospital could be signposted to other forms of care if their condition is not deemed serious enough to require emergency treatment in hospital.
The scheme is being piloted over the next five weeks, with the hospital trust saying the move is to make sure patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time, especially during busy periods when ED is under significant pressure.
The change is part of a new approach, developed by Bolton GP Federation in partnership with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.
The hospital has the busiest single site emergency department in Greater Manchester. Those who are registered with a Bolton GP and attend ED with a minor illness may be offered a same-day or next-available appointment with a GP or clinician at Bolton Health Hive or another general practice location or directed to a community pharmacy for expert advice and treatment.
Rae Wheatcroft, chief operating officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: “January is always one of our busiest times of year, and this year we’re also seeing more people attend the emergency department than at the same time in 2025.
“The impact of this is that those who need urgent help the most, can have a longer wait for what might be life-saving treatment.
“We’ve been working hard to support patients and the general public with understanding where the best place is for them to receive treatment, and by having this additional support at the front door of the Emergency Department – we’re confident that more people will get the care they need more quickly, and we can concentrate on providing urgent and emergency care.”
Dr Kamran Khan, Chair of Bolton GP Federation, said: “The federation has been offering extra GP appointments to Bolton people over the winter months and at evenings and weekends for several years now – most recently from the Bolton Primary Care Hub at Chorley Street – as part of our commitment to supporting practices and improving access for patients.
“Having one of our clinicians at the front door of ED is an extension of this, and one that we think can make an important, positive impact on patient care, while helping to educate people on the best place to go when they are feeling unwell.”
At 2pm on Wednesday, January 21 the trust’s website said the emergency department was ‘experiencing very high levels of activity’ with waiting times around two to four hours.
The trust said the emergency department should only be used for life-threatening emergencies such as severe chest pains, difficulty breathing, bleeding you can’t stop, possible broken bones, loss of consciousness, stroke symptoms, severe tummy pain or headache or a child who is very unwell.