Published on: 30th November 2021

We all need to carry on playing our part in helping to control the covid outbreak:

  • Stay at home if you have covid symptoms and get a test as soon as possible.

  • Have your covid vaccines, including the boosters when you're invited to

  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
  • Wear a face covering in places where it's hard to stay away from others. You must wear a face covering when visiting health services and appointments

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms:

  • A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

This includes places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.

If you have these symptoms, book a covid test as soon as you can.

Use NHS 111 online –  the online covid service if you're unsure or need medical advice.

Like the common cold, covid infection usually occurs through close contact with an infected person via cough and sneezes or hand contact. You can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if you don’t wash your hands.

Along with the advice above, here are other ways you can help to stop the spread of covid:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water often – for at least 20 seconds
  • Always wash your hands when you get home or into work
  • Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • Bin used tissues straight away and wash your hands afterwards
  • Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
  • Only use public transport if you have to
  • Use phone, online services, or apps to contact your GP surgery or other NHS services
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands
  • Limit the number of visitors to your home

FAQs and more info

The covid vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against covid.

The NHS will contact you with an invite to have the vaccine. They are curently working through groups who are most at risk from covid. Visit the NHS website for more info about the vaccine.

You can also watch a video with information about vaccines, made for people with a learning disability and autism.

SilverCloud is a free online programme available to people across Greater Manchester.  It that can help if you're feeling stressed or anxious, or if you have existing mental health issues. Sign up or learn more about SilverCloud.

Kooth offers free online counselling, mental health and emotional wellbeing support for those aged 11 to 18 years. Click here to find out more.

Our wellbeing page

We've pulled together lots of videos, guides and advice on our dedicated wellbeing page.

This includes things like:

  • Ten tips for wellbeing - some simple ideas to look after your mental and physical health
  • Mindfulness - two of our professionals shared their top tips to be more mindful and how it can help you
  • Self-help guides - our online guides cover a range of mental health problems and are available in different formats.
  • Mind - coronavirus and your wellbeing
  • Every Mind Matters – an NHS and Public Health England website with lots of information to support your mental health.
  • Mental Health Foundation - advice for looking after your mental health during the coronavirus and while staying indoors
  • Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership - there are lots of mental health and wellbeing resources for all ages on the partnerships best practice hub 

For NHS staff

  • Headspace - a guided meditation app, which NHS staff can use for free. You just need your NHS email to register and verify.
  • Unmind - a daily mental health and wellbeing platform. NHS staff can use it for free.

There are a number of helplines that can support you if you're struggling with your mental health. If there is an immediate risk of harm, you should ring 999.

Our free helpline (24/7)

Our patients and carers (of all ages) can call 0800 014 9995 for support.

Shout (24/7 text message support)

Shout is a free text messaging helpline for people of all ages.

Trained volunteers can provide advice in a private, confidential and trusted way,

To get started, text the relevant keyword based on where you live:

  • Text GMBury to 85258
  • Text GMOldham to 85258
  • Text GMRochdale to 85258
  • Text GMStockport to 85258
  • Text GMT&G to 85258 (this for Tameside and Glossop)

Samaritans (24/7)

Call 116 123 (freephone) if you need to talk to someone urgently about how you are feeling.

NHS staff helpline

NHS England have launched a new mental health hotline for staff of all roles and levels.

The phone number is running from 7am to 11pm daily: 0300 131 7000

Or you can text FRONTLINE to 85258 (available 24/7).

Volunteers are on hand to listen to NHS staff and give psychological support, or signpost you if needed.

More helplines

Visit our helplines page for more useful numbers.

Please read our visitors guidance to keep yourself, our patients and staff safe.

All visits must be booked in advance, by contacting the ward or service where your loved one is staying. You can find their contact details using our services search page.

If you have a raised temperature, new cough, or sudden loss of taste or smell; or you are self-isolating due to a member of your household showing symptoms of covid or you have been contacted by track and trace, please do not visit.

Together GM is a new website by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which has lots of helpful info about helpful services across the region. Click these link for info on:

Information about the coronavirus is also available as easy read posters, with simple words and pictures:

If you're one of our patients who has been prescribed clozapine, please contact your mental health team if you're experiencing any symptoms of the coronavirus or flu.

There are a range of covid research studies taking place across the country which you are more than welcome to take part in. Read the full list of studies.