‘We have a limited budget, and demand for care is very high’, say Greater Manchester health bosses as patients report their operations being cancelled at the last minute

Greater Manchester health bosses have said the pause will have to continue until at least the end of March(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)

Greater Manchester’s NHS has issued an update that the cancellation of surgeries amid ‘financial pressures’ will last for another two months.

A host of NHS patients have spoken out about how operations they have waited for have been cancelled at the last minute, due to a ‘pause’ in funding. The changes are affecting patients across Greater Manchester, according to Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB), the body which plans and pays for the health care of 2.8 million people.

The pause stops NHS-funded appointments and treatments at private hospitals, often used by the NHS to tackle long waiting lists, including elective procedures. Now, Greater Manchester health bosses have said the pause will have to continue until at least the end of March.

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Colin Scales, the acting chief executive of Greater Manchester ICB, reported to a board meeting last week: “Due to financial pressures and high demand across the system, some independent sector providers of routine planned (elective) care have been asked to pause new routine NHS referrals and the start of new treatment pathways until 31st March 2026.

“This temporary measure supports fair and clinically appropriate management of waiting lists across Greater Manchester.”

The funding pause comes from a recent ‘national change’ in how elective care is paid for. Previously, additional funding was available to support any activity above an agreed number in order to help clear the NHS backlog. The change means that there is now only a fixed level of funding from the NHS to local integrated care boards running health care around the country, and any activity beyond the agreed level must be managed by those integrated care boards.

Katherine Sheerin, chief healthcare commissioning officer, responded to the stories of patients left waiting in pain, saying: “We acknowledge how difficult this is. As an integrated care board, we have a limited budget, and demand for care is very high. We need to prioritise patients with the most urgent or time-critical needs, and we are working with providers to keep delays as short as possible, including for routine care.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and are keeping regional and national colleagues updated. We encourage anyone affected to speak with their provider if they have concerns about their care or wait.”

Kirith Entwistle MP

A Bolton MP took action this month after numerous stories from residents left devastated by last-minute cancellations were reported by the Bolton News. Kirith Entwistle, the Labour MP for Bolton North East, has raised serious concerns over the decision by NHS Greater Manchester to pause funding.

The publication reported how Ms Entwistle MP said: “Patients in Bolton deserve timely access to care.

“By removing funding for private appointments at Beaumont Hospital that have already been arranged, the Integrated Care Partnership is effectively closing off a vital pathway for those who cannot afford to wait months for treatment.

“I’ve been supporting individual constituents with their concerns over the last few weeks, and I’ve raised my concerns with government ministers as well as the ICB (Integrated Care Board).

“Patients shouldn’t have to deal with disruption and uncertainty when it comes to their own health care.”

The MP has also written to the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, urging clarity over the financial position and asking what support will be offered to patients affected by the sudden cancellations.

Ms Sheerin continued: “We are sorry to hear about the difficulties experienced by patients while waiting for planned surgery. While we cannot comment on individual cases, NHS Greater Manchester carefully manages elective care to prioritise patients with the greatest clinical need and those who have been waiting longest.

“Recent changes to national funding mean some treatments in independent hospitals are temporarily paused for some patients while we focus resources where they are most needed. We are working closely with all providers to manage waiting lists safely and reduce delays wherever possible, and we remain committed to supporting patients and families. We also encourage patients and families to share any feedback or concerns with NHS services.”

The health boss added: “While we cannot comment on individual cases, planned care should be postponed rather than cancelled, and patients whose appointments are affected should be contacted directly with updated information. We are encouraging providers to reschedule procedures as soon as possible, and anyone with concerns should speak to their care provider.

“We know these delays are concerning for patients who have already been waiting for a long time. Providers are being asked to communicate promptly and sensitively with anyone affected. Urgent and cancer treatments continue as planned, and in some cases, routine referrals may be temporarily paused to help manage demand fairly across the system.”