Operations cancelled as health board faces immense pressures

Four hospitals under the Hywel Dda University Health Board have cancelled operations after a weekend of ‘critical pressures’, that have arisen, as described by Dr Philip Kloer, the health board’s medical director, “at a level of escalation not seen before.” 

Operations at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush hospitals in order to protect and prioritise patient safety. 

The difficulties stretched across all A&E departments, GPs and community services. Dr Kloer stated that staff were to be moved around as required, meanwhile attempts are being made to bring in doctors and nurses currently on leave.

Recent figures have shown that A&E departments in Wales have ran at their lowest performance on record for three months in a row, whilst their ambulance service has failed to meet the response time target for the first time in four years.

These figures have come despite health boards and local authorities being provided with an extra £30m this year to help them cope with increased pressures over winter.

Chantae Clark, a paralegal in the medical negligence team at Ashtons Legal comments: “Unfortunately, health boards right across the UK are suffering the same issue of serious under resourcing. The NHS suffers extreme pressures month in, month out. It is frustrating and deeply concerning that the NHS is struggling to cope, which ultimately affects the standard of care received and consequently patients are suffering. I hope that staff across the health boards continue to work hard to deliver the best possible care for patients.”