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Here's the Mancunian Way for today:
Unhappy Christmas beckons for NHS
Following a shocking BBC Panorama programme alleging that patients were being abused at one of Greater Manchester Mental Health's care facilities, the trust has been placed into 'the equivalent of special measures'.
Since the episode about The Edenfield Centre, in Prestwich, aired last month, a dozen members of staff have been sacked, the Manchester Evening News understands. Thirty staff in total are facing disciplinary action.
The footage in the one-hour programme captured apparent humiliation, verbal abuse, mocking and assault of patients - plus alleged falsification of medical paperwork.
A patient called Joanna was filmed apparently being pinched twice by a member of staff. A member of staff was also filmed apparently having a nap on a wall during her shift.
The chair of the trust, Rupert Nichols, resigned last week after 'inexcusable behaviour and examples of unacceptable care' were 'exposed' and NHS England is placing GMMH in the Recovery Support Programme - the 'equivalent to the former special measures' and the highest level of NHS England intervention, multiple senior NHS sources say.
The trust is also bracing itself for a damning Care Quality Commission report to be published imminently and it is currently being investigated by GMP.
GMMH is far from the only NHS Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester to be struggling and in today's newsletter, I will look at why almost 1,000 'medically-well' people will be stuck in the region's hospitals over Christmas. There are also stories about 'Counterfeit Street' and the people who are going to dangerous lengths to take photographs of Christmas lights in Manchester.
Social care gridlock
As well as the issues with GMMH, almost 1,000 people in Greater Manchester face being ‘trapped’ in hospital on Christmas Day - despite being well enough to be discharged.
NHS, social care and patients correspondent Helena Vesty reports that medically fit patients are taking up around one-fifth of the region’s beds, due to the ‘social care gridlock’. The knock-on effect of that causes bottlenecks in emergency departments and leaves dangerously sick patients in the back of ambulances for hours, while paramedics are trapped outside hospitals and cannot head back out to answer incoming emergency calls.
The figures are stark; NHS England data predicts that 938 'well' people will be unable to go home for Christmas this year - up 38pc from the 704 patients unable to go home in 2021. Independent analysis from patient discharge experts CHS Healthcare puts the projected numbers even higher; the company predict that it will be 972 people who meet the criteria for discharge stuck in hospital.
Helena writes that the discharge issue arises from an absence of any staff in the community - meaning that patients cannot be safely supported in their discharge.
Even more worryingly, elderly and frail patients will often then deteriorate, due to lack of movement - this can then pave the way for even more medical issues needing treatment, and at worse more emergency department visits resulting in even more hospital bed admissions.
The NHS has partnered with co-ordinators CHS Healthcare in a bid to solve the issue. CHS Healthcare managing director Matt Currall said: “We must act now to deliver these solutions to avoid thousands of people unnecessarily spending Christmas Day away from their loved ones.”
Greater Manchester NHS has been contacted for response.
Counterfeit Street crackdown
"You're ruining our f***ing day" shouted one passer-by on Bury New Road as a huge police presence ensured that lots of Counterfeit Street's knock-off shops remained closed and locked up behind their shutters.
Many shoppers visit the stretch in look of a Christmas bargain but the counterfeit goods trade leads to much more sinister crimes, GMP say.
At least 33 organised crime gangs are believed to be linked to the area, with money laundering, firearms, drugs, modern-day slavery and illegal immigration all rife.
As GMP continue work to clean-up Manchester's the notorious area once and for all, reporter Lyell Tweed was invited to see a day of Operation Vulcan first hand.
"Uniformed officers in marked and unmarked cars stalked Bury New Road and the streets coming off it where shops are tucked away talking to those suspected of being involved in the illegal trades that happen in the area", he wrote. "Several times we drove down the tight Harris Street where men stood in doorways would notice us crawling down the street and in a panic rush inside, locking the door behind them."
It is unclear what the future holds for Counterfeit Street. Last month, it was reported that stretches of Bury New Road faced demolition under the orders of under the orders of Chief Constable Stephen Watson, before he later went on to dismiss the news as 'media hyperbole' - despite it coming from a quote by Detective Superintendent and head of Operation Vulcan Neil Blackwood.
Whatever happens, the ramifications of visiting the street to pick up a Christmas bargain are seemingly much more serious than it may appear on the surface.
No-show minister's "unwavering commitment to the North"
The Great Northern Conference was held at University Academy 92 (UA92) campus in Stretford this afternoon and two government ministers who had been scheduled to appear were conspicuous by their physical absence.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison both opted to send in pre-recorded videos of themselves and Mr Harper insisted in his address that the government had an “unwavering commitment to the north of England”, despite the no-show.
Meanwhile, Ms Davison's left those in attendance confused. Northern Agenda Editor Rob Parsons tweeted: "She didn’t mention the North at all but recorded herself preparing for questions in the Commons and not being able to give updates on the Levelling Up fund. Someone in the audience asked: ‘Was that the right video?’"
Unfortunately, it also meant that neither MP could face questions from the press or other people in attendance.
The Guardian's North of England Editor Helen Pidd joked that maybe he had been put off by the shoddy train service that his department is currently overseeing.
Ms Davison later explained on Twitter that her absence was down to the vote on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
There will be more in-depth analysis of the conference in today's edition of the Northern Agenda newsletter. You can sign up here.
You better watch out...
What is the strangest reason you've ever heard for someone risking their life? Surely taking photographs of some Christmas lights must run any other answer close.
However the display at the swanky Rio Ferdinand-owned King Street restaurant has stopped plenty of shoppers in their tracks in the middle of a road. When Lifestyle Editor Dianne Bourne went to see the lights for herself earlier this week, she spotted scores of people wandering into traffic to take snaps for Instagram.
Thousands of pounds have been lavished on the decorations at the former Establishment venue, which is based inside the historic Grade-II listed former Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank.
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Weather etc
Thursday Rainy in the morning, with sunshine and heavy showers following. Strong winds throughout. 11C.
Trains No services on Avanti West Coast on Saturday, November 26 due to strike action
Trivia question: Radio DJ Zoe Ball turns 52 today but which Greater Manchester borough did her former Children's TV Presenter dad Johnny Ball grow up in?
Manchester headlines
- Glazers out: Manchester United is up for sale 17 years on from the Glazer family achieving majority ownership of the club. Despite much celebration, Manchester United writer Richard Fay warned that the next owners could be even more divisive.
'A child could be next': A man whose labrador was attacked by a vicious dog says he is 'seriously concerned a child could be next'. Ben Hargreaves was out walking his black labrador Oscar at Buile Hill Park in Salford when he says another dog - described as a 'pit bull terrier' type breed - charged towards them and started attacking his pet 'unprovoked'. Read more.
- Mayfield development: Work on a development at Mayfield is set to start next year as a deal to fund a £400m office scheme in central Manchester has been struck - the first phase of the plans includes two office buildings with 320,000 sq ft and a 581-space multi-storey car park. Full story here.
Worth a read
I highly recommend setting 15 minutes aside to read James Holt's uncomfortable but incredibly important special report about the appalling attacks on gay men in Greater Manchester and the worrying rise in the number of hate crimes being reported in the region.
That's all for today
Thanks for joining me. If you have stories you would like us to look into, email thomas.molloy@reachplc.com.
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The answer to today's trivia question is: Bolton
