People are waiting hours to be seen at A&E departments at west Wales hospitals as health chiefs admit they are facing an “unprecedented amount of pressure”. Hywel Dda University Health Board is dealing with large numbers of people attending hospitals at the same time as many members of staff are off work.
The issues are affecting not only hospitals in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, including those in Carmarthen, Llanelli, Haverfordwest and Aberystwyth, but also care services in the community. In response, the health board has asked people to only attend emergency departments if they have “a life-threatening illness or serious injury” such as severe breathing difficulties, severe pain or bleeding, chest pain, a suspected stroke, or serious trauma injuries. You can keep up to date with the latest Carmarthenshire news by signing up to the local newsletter here.
A spokesperson for the health board has implored people not to attend A&E if they have minor wounds, burns or scalds or other minor injuries, and to instead visit a minor injury unit. Furthermore, health bosses are asking anyone with a relative or loved one in hospital to support them at home if they are well enough to be discharged, or to “consider whether a loved one could be supported in a temporary residential or nursing care setting”.
