Support While You Wait For Hospital Treatment

Rochdale’s While You Wait information page supports patients who are waiting for hospital treatment.

COVID-19 has meant some operations and procedures have been postponed, leading to understandable concerns for those waiting.

The hospital, GP practice and everyone involved in your care are doing their best to reduce waiting times for patients. It is not possible to provide certainty on how long you will have to wait for your treatment or surgery. The waiting list changes daily and priority is given to those with the greatest clinical need.

Your GP cannot help you be seen any quicker. GP's do not have access to hospital appointment or waiting list systems.

You can find approximate waiting times by following instructions on Greater Manchester While You Wait website. It also has the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Health and wellbeing services

Our Rochdale provides information on health, social care, childcare and family services within the borough of Rochdale. There are many services available across Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale that may be able to support you as you wait for your hospital care.

See Healthy Living and Wellbeing services

Health and wellbeing apps

Health and wellbeing Apps provide valuable information and advice, which can help us improve our health and wellbeing.

Our Rochdale has partnered up with a platform to offer the best health and wellbeing apps that are rated as the most effective. The ORCHA platform reviews and scores the apps to help users know which ones are clinically approved, good quality and safe.

See Better Apps for your Health and Wellbeing.

Referral and bespoke services

NHS Social Prescribing Link Workers

Working with GP practices, Link Workers are employed by the NHS and give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ by taking na holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They can help with issues that may be affecting your health and wellbeing like housing, fitness, loneliness and more.

They connect people to community groups and services for practical and emotional support. You can access a social prescribing link worker by speaking to your GP practice.

Living Well Coaches

Living Well can provide support and coaching around stopping smoking, oral health, exercise and feeling better all round. They can help you with a wide range of issues including, reducing your alcohol use, improving your mood, weight management or something else.

More information can be found through the Living Well website or you can contact them on 01706 751190 for more information.

Community Connectors

Community Connectors will talk to you about areas of your life you want to improve. They will then provide information, advice and if you wish, refer you to the appropriate team to help you to achieve this.

The team generally work 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday however; can sometimes make arrangements to speak to you outside these hours if required. They also visit many areas of the borough. Please contact us for days and times in your area.

Tel: 0300 303 8886

Tel: 0300 303 8875 Emergency out of hours

Email: adult.care@rochdale.gov.uk

What to do if your condition gets worse

If you think that your condition is getting worse and you don’t have an appointment coming up, you should make sure that the person in charge of your care knows this.

If you have a consultant or specialist nurse at the hospital, you should contact them and let them know of the changes to your condition. If you don’t, then please contact your GP practice and tell them.

Who to contact if you have concerns

Patient Advice and Liaison Services

All NHS organisations have a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) which is there to provide confidential support, advice and help to patients, their families and carers. If you have any questions, concerns or are uncertain about any aspect of your treatment or appointment, PALS can help you deal with any issues you may have. They can also advise you how to make a complaint.

Below are the details of PALS for the different NHS healthcare organisations serving the Rochdale Borough:

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Provides a range of community and hospital services and is responsible for Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Salford Royal Hospital.

Telephone: 0161 604 5897

Email: pals@paht.nhs.uk

See Northern Care Alliance website 

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Provides a range of healthcare services across North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Withington Community Hospital and Trafford General Hospital. 

Telephone: 0161 276 8686

See Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust website

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Provides mental health and learning disability services to people across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

Telephone: 0161 716 3178

Email: pals.penninecare@nhs.net

See Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust website

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Provides cancer services to patients across Greater Manchester.

Telephone: 0161 446 8217

Email: the-christie.pals@nhs.net

See The Christie NHS Foundation Trust website 

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (GM ICS)

Plans and commissions healthcare services on behalf of residents in the Rochdale Borough.

Telephone: 0161 742 6023

Email: gm.icp@nhs.net

See Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership website

Healthwatch Rochdale

Healthwatch Rochdale seeks to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. They focus on ensuring people’s worries and concerns about current services are addressed and work to get services right for the future.

They want to find out what matters to you and to help make sure your views shape the support you need.

You can share your feedback and find out more on Healthwatch Rochdale website.

Safeguarding teams

Safeguarding children

If you are worried that a child is at risk of or experiencing harm,

See Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Partnership (RBSCP)

If you feel a child or young person is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.

Safeguarding adults

If you are concerned for an adult see Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Adults Board (RBSAB)

If you feel a vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.

Domestic violence

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse see Domestic Violence and Abuse – Where to find help.

Mental wellbeing

Mental wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is just as important as physical health and taking care of your mind is important while waiting for hospital treatment.

The Greater Manchester While You Wait page has some useful resources for supporting your mental health while you wait.

The following services across the borough of Rochdale may also be useful:

Thinking Ahead Rochdale

Thinking Ahead Rochdale can help people who are feeling distressed by difficult events in their lives as well as people with a mental health problem. Thinking Ahead provide a range of talking therapies, which allow you to o talk to someone who is trained to help you deal with your negative feelings.

For more information, see The Big Life Group - Thinking Ahead website.

Rochdale and District Mind

Rochdale and District Mind provide a range of services to support people with mild to moderate mental health and wellbeing issues in the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale area.  Their services are designed by people with lived experience for service users.  They are focused on wellbeing and recovery, and have a person centred approach in supporting people to lead fulfilling lives.

For more information, see Rochdale Mind website

We also have a wellbeing directory, see Rochdale and District Mind - Wellbeing directory website

Five Ways to Wellbeing

The "Five Ways to Wellbeing" is a set of simple actions which can help improve your mental health and wellbeing. The five activities are based on connecting with others, being active, taking notice of our surroundings, continued learning and giving to others.

Just taking the time to do one of these activities everyday can really make a big difference. Evidence shows if you regularly practice these suggestions it can help you function better, make you feel good and add years to your life.

For more information, see Your Five Ways to Wellbeing website

#Thrive

#Thrive supports children and young people, aged up to 19 years, who are experiencing emotional health and wellbeing issues (for example feeling stressed, worried or not enjoying things).

For more information, see #Thrive website.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Mental Health Helpline

Pennine Care’s 24/7 mental health helpline is there to support anybody of all ages across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

You can contact them on 0800 014 9995 (freephone)

Carers

If you are a carer waiting for hospital treatment, or caring for somebody else who is waiting for hospital treatment, Rochdale Carers’ Hub may be able to support you. They provide information, advice and a wide range of specialist support services designed to help adult and young Carers continue in their caring role for as long as they choose and reduce the impact the caring role can have on their own health and wellbeing. 

They provide information, advice and a wide range of specialist support services designed to help adult and young carers continue in their caring role for as long as they choose and reduce the impact the caring role can have on their own health and wellbeing.

For more information, please see Carers’ Hub Rochdale website

Page last reviewed: 31/07/2023