Hywel Dda University Health Board

999 delays feared as ambulances queue outside hospitals

Patients have been asked to try other options before dialling 999 or going to A&E, because of 'unprecedented' pressure on emergency units.

6:57pm, Wed 13 Mar 2013

Health shake-up: hospital and injury units to shut

Hywel Dda health chiefs agree a plan to cut services in some smaller hospitals and re-invest millions of pounds in new community facilities.

7:10pm, Tue 15 Jan 2013

Hywel Dda Health Board announce hospital shake-up

Plans revealed to reorganise the NHS service provided by Hywel Dda Health Board

4:06pm, Mon 6 Aug 2012

Live updates

12:29 pm, Wed 13 Mar 2013 A&E delays due to high demand

Patients urged to think of other options to 999 or A&E

The Welsh Government has urged patients to "think before attending the Emergency Department or dialling 999."

People with minor injuries or illnesses are being asked to consider other options, to reduce pressure on A&E departments:

Self care: Keep a medical cupboard well-stocked, and rest at home
Advice: NHS Direct Wales can help with health questions and help find local services. The helpline is 0845 46 47 and the website www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk

Community support: A pharmacist can provide expert advice, and provide medicine without an appointment
Routine care: An appointment with your local GP when it's not an emergency

Urgent care: If you need urgent healthcare, phone your GP surgery or out of hours service - for urgent dental care contact the NHS Direct Wales Dental Helpline on 0845 46 47
Emergencies: Call 999 and ask for the ambulance service for serious emergencies, or go to an A&E department

Go to the Choose Well Wales website for full details of local services

11:54 am, Wed 13 Mar 2013 A&E delays due to high demand

'Significant increase in emergency pressures'

The Welsh Government says there has been "a significant increase in emergency pressures during the last week."

It says some staff have been redeployed to help out in A&E departments.

To help manage the pressures, NHS Wales has held Daily Executive Conference calls. Chaired by the Welsh Ambulance Service they include all Local Health Boards and Welsh Government Officials.

The NHS has been reprioritising some of their clinical staff to help with the pressures, for example, GPs and local Primary Care teams have been actively involved in supporting hospitals by managing patients where ever possible in their communities.

– Welsh Government spokesperson

11:47 am, Wed 13 Mar 2013 A&E delays due to high demand

Highest ever A&E attendance at Morriston Hospital

Morriston Hospital Accident and Emergency Department in Swansea had its highest ever levels of attendance yesterday, with more than 300 patients presenting for care.

11:41 am, Wed 13 Mar 2013 A&E delays due to high demand

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg: high A&E admissions

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board says it has seen a high number of emergency admissions, and its A&E departments are extremely busy and under pressure.

11:14 am, Wed 13 Mar 2013 A&E delays due to high demand

Cardiff & Vale A&E delays due to 'exceptional demand'

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has also apologised to patients for delays in treatment, particular in the emergency unit at the University Hospital of Wales.

It says there has been "exceptional demand on our services", and "in some instances we have not met the standards we set ourselves."

We would like to apologise to anyone who has experienced any delay or discomfort during their care in recent days and assure them staff are doing all they can to meet the exceptional demand on our services.

The Emergency Unit at University Hospital of Wales has been under consistent pressure.

On Monday there were more than 455 attendances, the highest this year.

Of those 42% were major cases, patients with serious injury requiring complex and expert care.

The high demand and complexity of the patients we are treating has meant that in some instances we have not met the standards we set ourselves.

– Alice Casey, Chief Operating Officer for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

5:14 pm, Tue 12 Mar 2013 A&E delays due to high demand

Patients forced to wait in ambulances outside hospital

Some patients have been treated in ambulances outside Bronglais Hospital.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has apologised for forcing patients to wait in ambulances outside Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

Mark Brandreth, Director of Planning and Operations at the health board, said: "Any patient waiting in an ambulance is assessed, managed and treated according to their needs by our doctors and nurses."

Bosses say ambulance admissions across Wales are currently 22 percent higher than predictions for this time of year.

Some planned surgery has been postponed, to provide more resources to the emergency department.

The health board is asking people with minor injuries or illnesses to try other options, such as getting advice from a local pharmacist or GP, or using minor injury units, rather than going to Bronglais.