CALLING a major incident during the height of the A&E crisis had a "psychological impact" on health partners across the borough, a leading Royal Bolton Hospital manager says.

Andy Ennis, the chief operating officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said after taking the rare step, six more social workers were rushed to the hospital to help discharge patients and stop bed blocking.

In the days after the major incident, declared on January 6, there was a drop of, on average, 35 patients per day who decided not to come to A&E, which he attributed to the publicity given to the event.

It was the first time in its history the Royal Bolton Hospital had declared a major incident.

The step is usually taken in the cases of a major accident or terror attack — where more staff are drafted in and non-emergency operations cancelled to free up beds — but the Royal Bolton Hospital had already taken these actions before January 6.

Mr Ennis told board members of the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust that the A&E department is still under pressure and patients are facing delays in being treated – but the number of "breaches" has reduced.

He said: “Calling a major incident was really a safety issue, and we needed to do something differently.

“It was just untenable. The staff were at breaking point and I felt it was affecting the safety of our patients and staff.”

He added: “There are practical things associated with a major incident, but the major thing was the psychological impact.

“It changed the situation — we had been getting steadily worse — and it was sending a message externally.

"We did see a drop in ambulances, but as soon as we came out of the major incident six ambulances arrived.

“The number of admissions didn’t change.

“It sent a message across the whole trust. I did it did make a difference — it needed that break.”

Politicians clashed in the House of Commons this week over the guidance given to hospitals when they declare a major incident, following instructions sent to trusts in the West Midlands.