Oldham Hospital A&E Overhaul: Breast Unit to Move to Manchester

Oldham's Royal Hospital is facing a major shake-up that could see breast cancer patients travelling to Manchester for their care, as health bosses scramble to fix chronic overcrowding in the A&E department. The Victoria Breast Unit would move to North Manchester General Hospital under plans to create more space for an expanded urgent care centre, with the £1.4 million overhaul aimed at tackling what officials call a 'crisis' in emergency services.

The numbers tell the story-between June and December last year, Oldham's A&E saw more than 73,000 patients, making it the busiest emergency department in Greater Manchester. Health inspectors have already flagged serious problems, with the Care Quality Commission ordering rapid improvements after finding systemic issues with patient safety and flow through the hospital.

For breast cancer patients, the change means potentially longer journeys for vital diagnostic tests and treatments. While health bosses haven't said when the move would happen or how it might affect current patients, the relocation would free up space for what's being called an Urgent Treatment Centre-essentially expanding the hospital's ability to treat less serious conditions without clogging up emergency services.

The proposal will be debated at Oldham's health scrutiny meeting next week, though neither the Manchester Foundation Trust nor Northern Care Alliance would comment on the plans when approached. For now, it's a case of wait and see whether this £1.4 million gamble will deliver the breathing space Oldham's emergency department desperately needs.