Health chiefs have issued a warning as temperatures are set to plummet across the UK - including here in Greater Manchester.
Temperatures in the region are expected to drop to as low as -4C later this week. Now people have been urged to used NHS services wisely as pressure builds on urgent and emergency care following Christmas.
Demand for primary care, hospital services, mental health, and emergency services is continuing to rise. Hospitals across the region are currently seeing high numbers of patients including those with existing chronic respiratory conditions which are often made worse by cold weather.
Cold health alerts have been issued for every part of England this week with a warning that in some areas there could be a ‘rise in deaths’ as a result of the weather conditions.