Hospitals access restricted and ops cancelled due to Covid:
HEALTH BOARD MANAGING SURGE OF CORONAVIRUS CASES
HEALTH chiefs have restricted access to a number of North Wales hospitals with immediate effect, following a rise in Covid-19 cases.
It comes as Betsi Cadwaladr University Health board (BCUHB) manages outbreaks at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor; Ysbyty Eryri, Caernarfon; Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan and Ysbyty Llandudno.
Entry to these hospitals will now only be permitted “if it is absolutely necessary” as cases of the virus continue to rise and more people are admitted to hospital, causing concern.
Gill Harris, executive director of nursing and midwifery at (BCUHB) said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, our visiting guidance has been kept under close review and is informed by community Covid-19 transmission rates, hospital Covid-19 admission numbers and hospital outbreaks.
“Due to the growing numbers of positive patients, both in our hospitals and in our communities, we have therefore taken the decision to further restrict access into our hospitals. This will come into effect immediately.
“Entering the hospitals named above will only be permitted if it is absolutely necessary, such as attending an outpatient appointment or if you require emergency treatment.
“This decision will not impact the visiting guidelines in place for our maternity, paediatrics and neonatal services or wards at Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Our visiting guidance for these services can be found online at https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/covid-19/ hospital-information/”
Ms Harris said exceptional visiting requests, such as visiting a relative who is dying, must be made directly with the ward.
It will require an individual risk assessment to be completed, in advance of and on arrival of an agreed visit, “so that we can keep patients, staff and visitors safe”, she said.
“All patients attending outpatient appointments or the Emergency Department should do so alone – unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as a patient requiring a carer or parent, having learning difficulties, experiencing mental health difficulties, or being unable to communicate,” said Ms Harris.
“We understand how difficult not being able to visit loved ones can be and we are sorry that we have had to take this step.
“We have free WIFI across our hospitals and family and friends are encouraged to keep in contact during this time using online technology.
“We understand how difficult these visiting restrictions will be for families, but please support us to minimise the impact of the virus and keep everyone safe.”
SURGICAL procedures are being cancelled at short notice at a North Wales hospital because of a rise in the number of Covid-19 patients being treated there.
Patients have been contacted the day before surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and told the planned operations and other procedures will be re-scheduled.
One patient, who had already had a pre-op examination and Covid-19 test, said he was told the cancellation was due to a rising number of patients being treated.
Asking not to be identified, he said: “It was very unexpected. I’ve been waiting months for the operation and all was well when I had the pre-op.
“When the phone rang, I thought they were going to ask me if I was still all right for the surgery.
“I was told I would be contacted again within three months. I can’t afford to go private so I will have to continue to suffer the pain and anxiety I have been under for the past 18 months.”
Another patient, who also asked not to be identified, said he was also called by hospital staff shortly before his planned procedure.
“I was told it was because of the number of Covid patients in the hospital,” he said.
“There was no indication when it would be done.”
Responding to the claims, Dr Nick Lyons, executive medical director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “Due to the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in our hospitals, we are having to postpone some planned surgery in the short term so we can safely care for patients. “This difficult decision has been made to ensure we can safely provide extra capacity on our sites, due to the number of people being treated for Covid-19 infection at the hospitals. “Postponing elective operations is not a decision that we have taken lightly and we would like to apologise for any distress and disappointment that this will cause.
“The rise in the number of Covid19 cases across North Wales shows the virus still remains a significant risk to our health service.
“I would like to appeal to the public to continue to follow the guidance in place in order to help reduce the spread of the virus within our communities and to take the pressure off NHS services.”