A Welsh health board has urged people to only attend its emergency department "if absolutely necessary" amid "unprecedented demand" for its services. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which covers the Gwent area, issued the message on Friday, December 30 as many head out to celebrate New Year's Eve.
In a post on social media the health board said it was experiencing "unprecedented demand" across its services with large numbers of patients presenting with respiratory viruses including the flu and Covid-19. It said a "significant increase in respiratory viruses" in communities was also causing high levels of staff sickness which were putting services under further pressure.
NHS services in Wales and the UK have been under sustained pressure in recent weeks, with the busy winter season coinciding with industrial action from nurses and ambulance staff during Christmas week. RCN members from the nursing community have warned of further strikes in 2023 unless the Welsh Government negotiates over pay, something it has so far refused to do.
The situation has led one of Wales' top doctors, chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton, to describe the country's healthcare system as "the busiest I've ever seen it" earlier on Saturday. The pressure in hospitals over the festive season even prompted another health board in Wales to ask people to pick up sick loved ones and take them home because they were so busy. You can read more about that here.
Read more: The social worker crisis in Wales and the millions of pounds spent on agencies to plug the gaps
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said it was advising people to check their symptoms with the online symptom checker or call 111 in the first instance. It said minor injury units at the Royal Gwent, Nevill Hall Hospital and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr were open throughout the bank holidays for minor injuries, including minor burns, sprains and bites.
The health board said people should only attend the emergency department at the Grange University Hospital "if absolutely necessary" and that there was likely to be a long wait for anyone attending. "Due to the extreme challenges we are currently facing, it’s possible that you or a relative may receive treatment in an area that we wouldn’t normally utilise and also when admitted," it said, adding: "We sincerely apologise for this but we are facing unprecedented circumstances. The seated capacity in the waiting room of our ED at the Grange is often not able to accommodate the numbers of patients presenting, which we understand is an ongoing issue and we are progressing plans to expand it.
"We apologise for the discomfort and stress this causes patients and if the waiting room is full we may require relatives to wait elsewhere if is no social/carer reason for relatives to accompany patients. This will allow patients space to sit in the waiting area and for staff to observe them in case they deteriorate. If a patient needs somebody to accompany them, this should be restricted to just one person."
The health board also said it might be more appropriate for some people to be discharged if there was no medical reason for them to remain in hospital. It said this may mean family members needing to provide care for a family member for a short period of time whilst domiciliary care is arranged.
"We wholeheartedly apologise for these circumstances - this is not the standard of service we aim to provide, but our staff are doing their very best, so please be kind to the people who are working tirelessly to cope with the demand and spend their days caring for others.
"Please also check in on your vulnerable relatives, neighbours and friends to ensure they have enough food and medication, and that they are warm and comfortable. Looking out for them and checking they are well could help them avoid a hospital admission over winter."
READ NEXT:
