Girl fighting cancer appeals for thumbs-up selfies to cheer her up... and goes viral

direct to your inboxDavid Oliver is an experienced NHS Consultant Physician and medical writer from Manchester.He has played a variety of national medical leadership and policy roles and has a weekly column in the British Medical Journal.He is currently managing two Covid wards at a hospital in the south of England.Here he explains the detrimental impact of conspiracy theories and untruths around Covid-19 on NHS staff.What do care home have to do to get a break in England right now?At last they

direct to your inboxThe coronavirus pandemic has exposed the crisis in the "broken" social care system – and it would be "immoral" not to fix it, Andy Burnham has warned.The mayor of Greater Manchester said the only way to cope with an ageing population would be to more closely integrate social care with the NHS.

Jason Manford has shared his heartbreak after finding out his BBC and XFM radio star pal has died.The stand up comedian took to his Instagram feed to share a photo of Michelle Mullane before explaining to his 318,000 followers that she sadly lost her battle with bowel cancer aged 50 on Christmas Eve.The snap saw the the brunette beauty smiling at the camera, which he captioned: "Just found out my dear friend and ex-BBC Manchester presenter Michelle Mullane sadly passed away on Christmas Eve.

Sign up to the MySalford newsletter and don't miss a thing happening in and around the cityA 68-year-old woman is in hospital with serious burns to her back and legs following a fire at a residential care home.Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to Kenyon Lodge, off Manchester Road West in Little Hulton, just after 10am this morning.Residents reported seeing two fire engines as well as a number of police cars outside the home, with crime scene investigators arriving

direct to your inboxTributes have been paid to a former radio presenter who has died following a battle with bowel cancer.Michelle Mullane, 50, worked for XFM and Key 103 and made regular appearances on BBC Radio Manchester throughout her career. The mum-of-one, who lived in Alderly Edge, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in June last year after being rushed to hospital with severe stomach pains.

direct to your inboxShe has spent her life caring for others - from nursing patients at the first ever NHS hospital in the 1940s to helping rehabilitate ex-offenders today.Now Manchester grandma Dena Murphy, who has won a Pride of Britain Award for her work in the community, has delivered a Christmas speech to offer comfort to the people of Greater Manchester in these dark times.It has been a tough year for many during the pandemic, with thousands losing loved ones to Covid-19, and others facing

direct to your inboxThis is the heartwarming moment Jason Manford turned up outside a care home in Greater Manchester to sing Christmas songs to residents.The Salford-born comedian sang a series of Christmas classics from outside the window of the home, thought to be in south Manchester.He posted the video on Facebook, saying he'd wanted to surprise his friend's dad at the care home.Residents can be seen inside the home cheering, dancing along from their chairs, and singing along.Jason gave them

straight to your inboxManchester City have given a Christmas present to every primary school kid in East Manchester and every child in in care across the whole city.Staff, players and coaches have paid for, wrapped and delivered more than 5,500 gifts.And with the coronavirus pandemic meaning the traditional Christmas visits to hospitals are off the cards, stars including Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne have been video calling patients on children's wards at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital,

direct to your inboxCare home bosses say as many as '60 per cent' of their staff have warned they will refuse the Covid vaccine when it is rolled out.Managers in care homes in Greater Manchester have been canvassing their colleagues ahead of the Pfizer vaccine being administered.Both staff and residents are among the first in the queue on the Government roll-out agenda, which was subject to reports of delays on Tuesday.And these plans could hit further stumbling blocks as care home bosses have

Tim Burgess has propelled one Manchester band onto BBC Radio 6 Music – as well as a slot at next year’s Kendal Calling.Guitarist Jack Iddon approached Burgess while working at Crewe train station to ask for a photograph, according to 6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins.When Iddon bumped into the Charlatans frontman a second time, the young musician told him about his own band, prompting Burgess to suggest that Iddon send him one of their tracks.‘Love Is A Pleasure’ by Rhys E – the band fronted by Rhys

Mail on Sunday about the last moments he spent with his daughter as she happily played on her scooter, and how he'd promised her an ice cream once they'd met up with her mum, Sarah. Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by following the instructions hereHe recalled the excited youngster racing ahead after she spotted her mother, and how following the attack, he initially thought she had fallen off the

direct to your inboxFashion boss Seema Malhotra is fighting back after lockdown by launching her first ever dedicated store.Seema, the owner of the Manchester-based online fashion brand Forever Unique, has opened the shop in the Trafford Centre.Determined Seema, one of the stars of the hit ITVBe reality series The Real Housewives of Cheshire, believes there's now light at the end of the tunnel for retail and Manchester - the 'fashion city' - where her brand was founded."Who could have predicted