More deaths as cases rise at hospital
THE NUMBER of patients who have died following an outbreak of Covid-19 at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital has reached 32.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (UHB) also confirmed there are now 150 positive cases linked to the outbreak at the Llantrisant site.
All non-urgent elective surgery at the site has been temporarily suspended with the exception of a “very small number” of urgent cancer cases.
Emergency admissions, with the exception of children, are being diverted to other hospitals while emergency ambulance calls are also being told to travel to other sites.
However, there is no change to the selfcontained paediatric wards at the Royal Glamorgan which remain open. Mental health services at the hospital also remain open.
The health board added that from this week, any patient requiring an emergency admission following assessment at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital – or any patient referred for admittance by a GP – will now be admitted to the Royal Glamorgan rather than be taken to another hospital.
Meanwhile, there have been further cases of the virus at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, which has seen 21 cases and four deaths, and Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend which has seen 25 cases and two deaths.
In conjunction with Public Health Wales, the health board is also monitoring a number of cases at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda in Llwynypia, which had 11 cases as of Monday, and Maesteg Hospital. Immediate measures to contain the spread of the virus have been taken.
Medical director for the health board Dr Nick Lyons said: “In conjunction with Public Health Wales, we continue to closely monitor cases at a number of our sites. The safety of our patients and staff remains our first priority and immediate measures to contain the spread of the virus have been put in place.
“We are taking the outbreaks extremely seriously and the stringent and robust mitigating actions which have been taken across our sites are being closely observed. However, given the nature of coronavirus, there is an inevitable time delay in when we will see the positive impact of these measures.
“We apologise for the concern that this will cause to families and our communities and we would encourage anyone who has any questions to contact our helpline on 01685 726464 between 9am and 4.30pm (Mon to Fri) where a team will be ready to help.”
He added: “Infection rates also continue to rise in our communities and we are appealing to all members of the public to take seriously their responsibilities by ensuring their behaviour does not contribute to the further spread of Covid19. We remain grateful to all members of our community who are continuing to adhere to the guidance in order to help control this virus.”
Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB said it is also planning to open its field hospital, Ysbyty’r Seren in Bridgend, and is working to ensure all operational and infection control measures are fully in place to admit patients.
A spokeswoman said: “Our teams are working extremely hard to prepare the hospital for patients, with quality of care and safety being our top priority. We will provide further update this week.”