Think twice before A&E visits or calling an ambulance
use healthcare services wisely.
According to a BCUHB spokesman, an increase in the number of patients in hospitals with coronavirus, combined with staff absences and issues discharging patients back into the community, has led to a shortage of beds in hospitals across the region.
The public has been urged to use other healthcare services for injuries and illnesses that are not critical or life threatening to ease the pressure on hospitals this Easter weekend.
Dr Richard Griffiths, consultant in emergency medicine at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, said: “The best way the public can help our frontline staff, and ensure that they and their families can be seen quickly, is to use other health services within our community and reserve our emergency departments for serious or life-threatening conditions.
“If you begin to feel unwell and it’s not an emergency you visit the NHS 111 Wales website for free health advice and information or visit your local pharmacy. For urgent concerns, people can contact our GP Out of Hours service by calling 111.”
According to the health board, there are also a number of patients well enough to go home, but still waiting to be discharged.
Gill Harris, executive director of integrated clinical services, urged relatives of those in hospital to help their loved ones get home more quickly, if they are in a position to help with homecare.
She said: “Spending as little time in hospital is better for patients and means that NHS beds can be freed up for others with urgent care needs. Supporting older patients to get home from hospital efficiently is an important part of their recovery and it also protects them from negative consequences of hospital admission, such as hospital-acquired infection, falls and a loss of independence.
“If you feel you are able to facilitate hospital discharge for your loved one please speak to the ward manager or your social worker to explore this further.”
The under-pressure Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is also reminding people to choose well when they need health advice or support – by using NHS 111 Wales or visiting a community pharmacy.
Paramedic Dave Massey said: “Bank holidays are always a busy time for the ambulance service, especially the Easter weekend when typically more people will be socialising with friends and family, which can lead to more people becoming ill or injured. This puts our service under even more pressure than it already is, so we’re asking people to look after themselves and others and think carefully about whether an ambulance is most appropriate for their needs.
“There are a full range of options available to you, including the NHS 111 Wales website, which should be your first port of call for health advice and information. We want to ensure it’s a weekend that people will remember for the right reasons and, more importantly, that our ambulance crews are there for those who need them most, so please enjoy Easter responsibly.”
The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey suggests that 231,900 people in Wales had the disease in the week ending April 9. That is equivalent to 7.63% of the population or around one in 13 people. It is a small rise on the 7.59% of the population estimated to have Covid-19 in the previous week in Wales.
The infection rate is falling in most other parts of the UK including England as a whole, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, it is still rising in the north-east region of England. The ONS survey is now the most reliable method of assessing the spread of Covid in Wales as it is based on a randomised survey and is not dependent on routine testing, which is now no longer available in any part of the UK.
Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: “Across most parts of the UK infections have thankfully begun to decrease. It is too early to say if we have passed the peak of infections and infections overall remain high. We will continue to carefully monitor the data moving forward.”
The ONS gather this data by actively swabbing people at random to try to build a picture of the current Covid situation.
The latest data from lateral flow tests taken in Wales shows there have been fewer positive tests in the last week, down to 22,784 from 25,611. However, changes to testing requirements, as tests are only available to people with symptoms, mean it is no longer a reliable guide to the pandemic.
On Monday, as part of the Welsh Government’s latest review announced on Thursday, a rule that means businesses have to carry out specific coronarivus risk assessments will end.
However, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in health and social care settings remains in place for another three weeks.