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More hospital emergencies delays | More hospital emergencies delays |
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The Welsh Ambulance Service said 11 of its vehicles queued up outside Wales' largest hospital because there were no beds available for patients. | The Welsh Ambulance Service said 11 of its vehicles queued up outside Wales' largest hospital because there were no beds available for patients. |
Some 999-patients had to wait for an hour outside the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff during the early hours of Thursday. | Some 999-patients had to wait for an hour outside the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff during the early hours of Thursday. |
It followed an emergency admissions crisis at another hospital this week. | It followed an emergency admissions crisis at another hospital this week. |
The situation had returned to normal by 0700 GMT, a spokesman for the ambulance service told BBC News. | The situation had returned to normal by 0700 GMT, a spokesman for the ambulance service told BBC News. |
The situation began on Wednesday evening and at one point there were no available ambulances to send to emergency calls. | The situation began on Wednesday evening and at one point there were no available ambulances to send to emergency calls. |
It is the second time in a month that ambulances have had to queue outside the UHW because of a high volume of 999-calls and a shortage of available beds. | It is the second time in a month that ambulances have had to queue outside the UHW because of a high volume of 999-calls and a shortage of available beds. |
In a statement, a spokesman for Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said: "The emergency unit at the UHW was under particularly heavy pressure last night. | |
Every effort was made to... make room for new patients but, unfortunately, demand exceeded bed availability Cardiff and Vales NHS Trust spokesman | |
"The trust was in contact with neighbouring hospitals and the picture at Cardiff was reflected across most major hospitals in the south east Wales area. | |
"Due to the fact that the UHW was, effectively full, with no beds available, patients had to wait in the emergency unit and that had a knock-on effect on the ambulance service. | |
"Its crews experienced delays as they waited to discharge their patients to the emergency unit. | |
"Every effort was made to discharge as many patients as possible from the hospital to make room for new patients but, unfortunately, demand exceeded bed availability. | |
"All patients were triaged on arrival and prioritised for treatment. | |
"The staff worked tirelessly to try and make those patients waiting to be moved on to ward beds as comfortable as possible." | |
Bed shortages | |
Less than two weeks ago the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a state of "special emergency" after record demand in Cardiff and the Vale mid February. | Less than two weeks ago the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a state of "special emergency" after record demand in Cardiff and the Vale mid February. |
People were urged to dial 999 only in life-threatening cases after calls reached "unprecedented levels". | People were urged to dial 999 only in life-threatening cases after calls reached "unprecedented levels". |
Speaking about the situation, the chairman of the British Medical Association's Welsh Council said there would always be "peak and troughs" within the system. | Speaking about the situation, the chairman of the British Medical Association's Welsh Council said there would always be "peak and troughs" within the system. |
Dr Tony Calland said: "It is difficult to predict these sudden surges. It is a capacity problem, you've got difficulty getting people out, mainly because there are a lot more elderly people in hospital." | Dr Tony Calland said: "It is difficult to predict these sudden surges. It is a capacity problem, you've got difficulty getting people out, mainly because there are a lot more elderly people in hospital." |
He added the aging population was putting huge pressure on social services to find carers for them once they leave hospital. | He added the aging population was putting huge pressure on social services to find carers for them once they leave hospital. |
"There are constraints on the nursing homes - many have had to close because they are uneconomical. | "There are constraints on the nursing homes - many have had to close because they are uneconomical. |
"There is pressure on social services. There is pressure all along the line." | "There is pressure on social services. There is pressure all along the line." |
Some patients' had to be transferred to nearby Llandough hospital. | Some patients' had to be transferred to nearby Llandough hospital. |
On Monday people waited more than two hours on to be admitted to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant as emergencies "overwhelmed' the hospital. | On Monday people waited more than two hours on to be admitted to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant as emergencies "overwhelmed' the hospital. |
Up to seven ambulances queued outside the hospital. | Up to seven ambulances queued outside the hospital. |