Bolton South and Walkden MP said that she had been raising the issue of cancelled appointments with the local health board.
As part of our ongoing Bolton News investigation into an NHS funding pause for some private hospitals in Greater Manchester, we sought responses and additional insight from Bolton MPs.
In early December, The Bolton News was contacted by a distressed pensioner who had been waiting for more than a year for a hip replacement as an NHS patient at The Beaumont Hospital.
The operation was subsequently cancelled, with the patient told that “the funding for some NHS patients has been paused until April 2026”.
Feeling “distressed and in debilitating pain”, the resident asked The Bolton News to investigate further.
' I will continue to advocate for any of my constituents who find themselves in this situation'
Patients are sometimes referred to private hospitals for treatment to cut waiting times.
MP Yasmin Qureshi has reportedly been working with her constituents to have their treatment re-instated.
The MP urged people who have had their operations cancelled last minute to contact her.
Ms Qureshi said: “I too have been contacted by a number of constituents regarding elective operations being cancelled and I am concerned about this being due to funding models changing, rather than operational needs.
“Where constituents have contacted me, I have been able to speak with NHS Greater Manchester and their appointments were re-instated.
“I have been asking for further updates on this and will continue to advocate for any of my constituents who find themselves in this situation.
“The government’s plan for change is working, with waiting lists at Royal Bolton Hospital down by over 5,000 people in the last 12 months.”
When initially contacted about the funding pause, on December 11, a spokesperson for NHS Greater Manchester told The Bolton News: “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.”
Katherine Sheerin, chief healthcare commissioning officer at NHS GM, told The Bolton News on January 13: “We recognise how worrying it can be for patients when planned appointments or surgery are affected.
“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.”
Beaumont Hospital said it recognised the distress caused to patients by the cancellations and stressed that safety remained its priority.
When initially contacted on December 15, a spokesperson for The Beaumont Hospital said: “We fully recognise the distress and uncertainty this temporary pause has caused for some NHS-funded patients.
“Patient safety is our number one priority, and all affected patients have been contacted directly, remaining under clinical oversight, and will continue to be monitored until their appointment or treatment is rebooked.
“We are working closely and constructively with Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board to ensure that patients with the greatest clinical need are prioritised and that access to care is restored quickly.”
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