Get in touch

Oldham residents who need mental health help in a crisis can now ring NHS 111 and press option 2 to be put straight through to a trained team, a change designed to stop people sitting in A&E queues when what they really need is talking therapy or a safe plan.

If the worry is less urgent, the borough's GPs have a new feedback route called You and Your General Practice. It lets patients raise compliments, concerns or formal complaints with the practice manager first, or, if that feels awkward, with NHS Greater Manchester's Integrated Care Board via a dedicated email address set up for the scheme.

Those who want to scrutinise decisions about budgets, board meetings or other corporate business can reach the organisation's corporate services team on 0161 357 1598 or at [email protected], lines open 9 am to 4 pm on working days. The same Manchester office, Tootal on Oxford Street, also handles freedom-of-information requests posted or emailed to [email protected].

Patients can ask to see the personal data held on them, though NHS Greater Manchester warns that some details may be withheld if release could harm mental or physical health or breach third-party privacy. GP records are held by individual practices, while hospital notes stay with the hospital that provided the care.

For residents who prefer British Sign Language, the 111 service offers SignVideo, and text relay is available by prefixing 18001 before dialling. Out-of-hours journalists can ring 07815 655 213 for urgent media queries.