The NHS trust which runs Fairfield General Hospital is rolling out specialised dementia hubs as part of a trial to free up hospital beds. 

The scheme, which launched on Monday, will see Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust use the hubs to support people who have a greater chance of readmission.

Greater Manchester is one of six areas exploring new ideas to make more hospital beds available and make sure patients get the right care at the right time.

The plans aim to reduce urgent and emergency care delays and get ambulances back on the roads quicker.

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Bury North MP James Daly is hopeful that the trial will make a difference.

He said: “It is absolutely critical we free up as many hospital beds as possible to address the issues with lack of beds in urgent care.

“This is an incredibly difficult time for our urgent care services, and it is good to see our area at the forefront of finding innovative solutions to this hugely important issue."

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In total, up to £14.1bn of additional funding will be invested by government over the next two years to improve urgent and emergency care and tackle the backlog.

And £7.5bn of this support is for adult social care and discharge over the next two years which will also help deal with immediate pressures.

Minister of State for Social Care, Helen Whately, added: “Getting people out of hospital on time is more important than ever.

“It’s good for patients and it helps hospitals make space for those who need urgent care.

“We’re launching six discharge frontrunners to lead the way with innovations to help get people out of hospital and back home.

“Winter is always hard for the NHS and social care, and this, year especially with flu in high circulation.

"That’s why we provided the £500m Discharge Fund earlier in the winter.

“As well as helping people right now, we’re looking ahead to make our health and care system work better next winter and beyond.

“These problems are not new but now is the time to fix them for the future.”

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