Working together to fight pandemic crisis
THE end of any year time to look back at months that shaped it.
Often a mixed bag of highs and lows, there is no denying that 2020 dealt far more lows that anyone would have wanted.
Put simply, it has been the toughest year in living memory for many people, a year that none of us expected to endure in the way we have had to - but endure we have.
The coronavirus pandemic leapt into our lives in March and still has us in its grip now as we end the year – although vaccines are being given, lives continue to be lost as cases rocket again across Wales.
We must all still play our part and make sacrifices to ensure the NHS can cope and we are not putting ourselves at risk.
Here, leaders of Hywel Dda University Health Board and Carmarthenis a the
shire Council give us their views on the year since life was turned upside down three months into 2020.
The two authorities have been at the forefront of tackling the enormous and unprecedented challenges.
Maria Battle, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board
“The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to behave differently, in ways that many of us are still trying to get used to.
“2020 has been a year in
which we have had to fundamentally change the way we live, work, interact with and care for each other.
Tragically, there continues to be a real human cost to the pandemic and many families have lost loved ones before their time.
“Many others have survived, but the journey to recovery continues for them - and for us.
“This has also been the year when the courage of our communities and our health and social care staff has shone brightly.
“It was March 12, when I was informed of the possible impact of Covid-19 in Wales based on Imperial College London modelling - it was chilling.
“We immediately went into action.
“We estimated we needed 1,000 extra beds, increased oxygen supplies in all our four main hospitals, trebling of our intensive care beds, PPE for our staff, testing sites across the health board (which covers over a quarter of the landmass of Wales) and 1,000 extra staff as soon as possible. We also needed to make our hospitals and GP surgeries as safe as possible. The challenge was enormous and we achieved it together.
“In many ways Hywel Dda has been the first in Wales - opening the first coronavirus testing units, the construction of field hospitals, trialling the use of hoods successfully for patients with chest issues, and the local manufacturing of a ventilator product.
“We sourced and distributed personal protection equipment in the most challenging global market.
“We were totally focused on saving lives and caring for our patients, our staff and each other. The creativity and partnership with our three local authorities, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, caring for residents in care
homes and protecting communities with Test Trace and Protect continues to be inspirational.
“As was the way the communities across west Wales rose up and cared for each other. A social model for health in action. Staff made incredible sacrifices including living away from their families and loved ones. The public made incredible sacrifices to keep us all safer.
“Throughout this year I have been humbled and very proud of what we have all achieved together.
“I hope in 2021 we will see many of the positive changes in the NHS and our communities continue; the digital revolution, the partnership, caring communities, empowering front line staff, valuing our health and social care staff for their selfless work, service and courage.
“The breaking down of barriers within organisations and between them focusing on the patient, the creativity and flexibility and the can-do attitude.
“I hope the many young people who stepped forward and offered their help to the health board at such a turbulent time, including our modern apprentices and new staff and volunteers, had a taste of serving in the NHS which will lay seeds for their future careers - we will need them going forward. I hope we can all work creatively together to treat patients whose procedures has been delayed because of Covid-19 as soon as possible and families can visit their loved ones in hospitals and care homes once again. The light at the end of the tunnel is the vaccine, but the darkest hour is the hour before dawn and the toughest part of the road lies before us. NHS staff are battle weary but are once again rising to the challenge with the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.
“As this disease is now reaching alarming levels across Wales we need a final push together to protect each other and to save lives.
“Thank you to have sacrificed.” all who
Emlyn Dole, Leader of Carmarthenshire Council “2020 will certainly be a year that none of us will be able to forget.
“In March, we had just set our budget for the year, we were cleaning up flood damage brought by Storm Dennis and were looking ahead to delivering some exciting capital projects.
“During that time, we kept a keen eye on Covid19 developments in other parts of the world, but we could not have foreseen the devastating impact it would have. Some 10 months on, we’re still adapting and responding, experiencing a third peak that has seen record numbers of Covid-19 cases in Carmarthenshire.
“The experience of 2020 is something we will never want to repeat, but what we can look back on and appreciate is the huge hurdles we have overcome, working together.
“The benefit of hindsight and the learning we have shared, together with a true team spirit amongst our staff and partners to face Covid-19 as one, will surely put us in a good place to continue a strong and robust response.
“As leader of this authority, I am incredibly proud of our team - staff and councillors working together - and it’s only when you sit back and reflect that you truly appreciate the enormity of what has been achieved.
“Early on in the first wave we saw our schools, leisure centres, theatres, museums, galleries, council buildings, parks and outdoor spaces along with recycling centres, public toilets and other services close within days as we implemented emergency measures as part of a tactical command group. We launched a Business Hardship Rent Relief Fund to support thousands of our businesses that were forced to close, handing out millions of pounds in rent relief and grants over several months to help them.
“We set up four temporarily field hospitals in a matter of weeks - something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime and never want to see again - and we’re now seeing one of those in use. Our staff put themselves forward for redeployment onto the front line, and we set up a dedicated support line to provide help and advice to businesses and residents, taking thousands of calls from people needing support.
“We set up childcare hubs to support key workers; food hubs to feed over 8,000 vulnerable people who were shielding and low-income families; toys and activity packs to support the welfare of vulnerable children.
“Our carers worked around the clock in challenging circumstances to care for our elderly - often sacrificing time with their own families.
“There has been so much more - I could write a thousand more words - but none of them will be enough to capture everything, and the very grateful thanks I want to give to everyone who has played their part in our response.
“At the height of the first wave, we set up Sirgaredig - Sharing Carmarthenshire’s Kindness, a way to bring together the true community spirit we have seen in such abundance, and that’s what I will try to take away from 2020.
“Not the bad memories, but the heart-warming way that people came together during a truly horrendous time.”