Key Points
- Greater Manchester emergency services, including police, fire, and ambulance, have been conducting joint large-scale training exercises at the University of Bolton to prepare for terror attacks and mass casualty incidents.
- The exercises involved realistic scenarios with up to 60 volunteers acting as casualties with injuries created by the University’s SFX students.
- Royal Bolton Hospital is undergoing a £1.74 million upgrade of its Emergency Department to improve patient flow and ambulance handovers while remaining fully operational.
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised as the third most improved NHS Trust in England for Emergency Department 12-hour performance and among the top ten for four-hour standard improvements.
- The Out of Hours (OoHs) GP service contract in Bolton, currently provided by BARDOC, is due for renewal with proposals to extend the current contract until March 2026 and commence full procurement for a new contract starting April 2026.
- The University of Bolton received formal thanks from Greater Manchester Police for its support in facilitating the anti-terror training exercises.
What Was the Purpose of the Emergency Services Conference in Bolton?
As reported by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), the conference in Bolton centred on joint training exercises designed to ensure readiness for terror attacks or incidents involving large numbers of casualties. These exercises, held weekly at the University of Bolton from June 8 to July 6, 2025, tested the coordinated response of the three emergency services to mock real-life terror scenarios.
Superintendent John-Paul Ruffle of GMP’s Specialist Operations branch emphasised the importance of preparedness:
“Exercises provide a vital opportunity for us to test elements of the response in an environment where there is no real risk or threat of harm and to identify and implement any learnings.”
He highlighted that such training is part of ongoing improvements in planning, training, and testing across Greater Manchester Police and partner agencies.
How Were the Training Exercises Made Realistic?
The realism of the scenarios was enhanced by the involvement of up to 60 volunteers acting as casualties with a variety of injuries. These injuries were crafted by the University of Bolton’s Special Effects (SFX) students to simulate the conditions emergency responders would face during a terror attack or mass casualty event.
Chief Inspector Liam Wareing of GMP’s Firearms Training Unit, who visited the University to thank staff, stated:
“We would not have been able to carry out such a successful exercise without the help and support of the University and the facilities on campus that we were able to use made it as realistic as it could be.”
The University’s Head of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Michelle Powell, added that the exercise was invaluable for students from various health professions, providing them with hands-on experience from a patient perspective.
What Upgrades Are Underway at Royal Bolton Hospital’s Emergency Department?
According to Building Better Healthcare, Royal Bolton Hospital has commenced a £1.74 million transformation of its Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre as of April 14, 2025. The project aims to improve patient flow and meet national targets for the four-hour quality standard and timely ambulance handovers.
Key features of the upgrade include:
- A dedicated ambulance handover area
- An additional rapid handover bay
- A modern, redesigned waiting room
Rae Wheatcroft, Chief Operating Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, explained:
“This major transformation will allow us to create a modern healthcare environment that is better for both our patients and staff, and will help us to make sure our sickest patients get to where they need to be as quickly and safely as possible.”
The hospital confirmed that all emergency services will remain fully operational throughout the 27-week redevelopment.
How Has Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Improved Emergency Department Performance?
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised as the third most improved NHS Trust in England for Emergency Department 12-hour performance, and among the top ten for improvements against the four-hour standard between March 2024 and March 2025, according to the National Urgent and Emergency Care (NUEC) team.
Ryan Calderbank, Divisional Director of Operations for the Acute Adult Care Division, credited the collective efforts of the organisation and system partners for the improvements:
“All of our teams should be incredibly proud of what we have achieved together in the last twelve months to improve urgent care services for Bolton.”
Sam Ball, Programme Director for Operational Performance, added that the changes have made a real difference in delivering timely care to the community.
The Trust is working towards the national ambition of ensuring 78% of patients are admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours of arrival at the Emergency Department. Plans are underway to embed these improvements sustainably into future operations.
What Are the Current and Future Arrangements for Out of Hours (OoHs) GP Services in Bolton?
A report presented by Kathryn Oddi, Assistant Programme Director for Primary Care Commissioning and Contracting, to the Primary Care Commissioning Committee on 26 February 2025, outlined the current status and future plans for the Out of Hours GP service in Bolton.
The current contract, held by BARDOC, commenced on 1 July 2018 and was extended for two years, expiring on 30 June 2025. The annual contract value for 2024-25 is £3,904,496.
The OoHs service includes:
- Telephone access and direct referrals from NHS111, paramedics, Bolton A&E, and community services during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
- Face-to-face treatment appointments at multiple locations in Bolton during weekends and bank holidays.
- Non-clinical management of Alternative to Transfer referrals during GP surgery hours.
- Acceptance of primary care appropriate patients streamed from A&E front door daily.
- GP telephone support to the Admission Avoidance Team 24/7.
- A Local Clinical Assessment Service accepting NHS111 referrals 24/7.
- Prophylactic treatment for care workers and residents in care homes within 48 hours of exposure.
The committee proposed a Direct Award Contract to extend current arrangements from 1 July 2025 to 31 March 2026, alongside plans to commence a full procurement process for a new contract starting 1 April 2026. The committee agreed to keep this as a standing agenda item to maintain communication and governance oversight.
Why Is Collaboration Between Emergency Services and Local Institutions Important?
The collaboration between Greater Manchester emergency services and the University of Bolton exemplifies the importance of multi-agency cooperation in emergency preparedness. The University’s facilities and student involvement have been instrumental in delivering realistic training exercises that benefit emergency responders and healthcare students alike.
Such partnerships enhance the region’s capacity to respond effectively to major incidents, ensuring that all agencies can coordinate seamlessly when real emergencies occur. The exercises and ongoing improvements at healthcare facilities like Royal Bolton Hospital further strengthen Greater Manchester’s resilience and readiness.