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Cardiff and Vale health chiefs warn over pressures on A&E A&E warnings as Wrexham Maelor hospital 'log-jammed'
(about 3 hours later)
Health chiefs in Cardiff are the latest in Wales to urge people to "think carefully" before going to A&E. Wrexham Maelor hospital is "log-jammed" and others in north Wales are in a similar situation, BBC Wales has found.
Cardiff and Vale health board said UHW was seeing high numbers of patients and added that people should only attend in the case of a genuine emergency. An email sent from the hospital to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board staff urges "any actions necessary to facilitate discharge" of patients.
The health board said it was managing the situation and no planned surgery had been cancelled.
It came as Cardiff health chiefs became the latest in Wales to warn people to only use A&E units in emergencies.
There is similar advice for A&E at Moriston Hospital in Swansea and the Princess of Wales hospital, Bridgend.There is similar advice for A&E at Moriston Hospital in Swansea and the Princess of Wales hospital, Bridgend.
Last week Hywel Dda board said Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest was under "extreme pressure".Last week Hywel Dda board said Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest was under "extreme pressure".
The public has been asked to follow 'Choose Well' advice before deciding whether A&E is appropriate. 'Inappropriate patients'
On Tuesday, an "urgent situation report" from Wrexham Maelor hospital was sent to staff.
It said: "Having weathered the Christmas and New Year Holidays reasonably well the hospital has seen very high levels of admissions since Friday last week across all specialties.
"The position this morning is that the hospital is log jammed with patients, which has led to high levels of inappropriate patients in ED and long delays for ambulance vehicles.
"I understand that this position is similar across north Wales and the across our Welsh borders."
In response, Betsi Cadwaladr said there had been a "peak in demand" for emergency admissions to the three main hospitals in Wrexham, Bangor and Bodelwyddan, which led at times to "delays in patients being admitted to beds from the emergency department".
It added: "As part of our usual procedures to manage periods of high demand, the health board has asked its clinical teams to make sure that discharge processes are operating efficiently so that patients who are fit to leave hospital can do so without delay, and beds can be released to accept new admissions.
"We have also kept GPs informed of the situation."
Across Wales, the public has been asked to follow 'Choose Well' advice before deciding whether A&E is appropriate.
A Cardiff and Vale spokesman said the number of people attending the city's A&E department was currently manageable but people should contact NHS Direct if they were unsure whether they should attend.
A spokesperson said: "Staff are managing demand but we would remind patients to 'choose well' and think very carefully before going to A&E."
In an updated statement, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board - which covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend - said 18 routine, non-cancer and non-urgent operations at Morriston and Singleton hospitals had been postponed.In an updated statement, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board - which covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend - said 18 routine, non-cancer and non-urgent operations at Morriston and Singleton hospitals had been postponed.
A spokesperson said: "This is because the beds were needed for very sick emergency patients, most of them over the age of 75.A spokesperson said: "This is because the beds were needed for very sick emergency patients, most of them over the age of 75.
"In order to manage this surge in emergency demand, patients who are not emergency cases, or who do not have serious injuries, should avoid Morriston and the Princess of Wales emergency departments."In order to manage this surge in emergency demand, patients who are not emergency cases, or who do not have serious injuries, should avoid Morriston and the Princess of Wales emergency departments.
"In some cases people with minor injuries arising from trips and falls a few days ago are waiting until now to come to our major emergency departments for treatment."In some cases people with minor injuries arising from trips and falls a few days ago are waiting until now to come to our major emergency departments for treatment.
"These are not serious injuries and their GP or the minor injury unit in Neath Port Talbot Hospital is the best place for them to be seen."These are not serious injuries and their GP or the minor injury unit in Neath Port Talbot Hospital is the best place for them to be seen.
"By turning up at A&E they are not only facing delays before they can be treated, but they are tying up clinicians who need to concentrate on very sick patients."By turning up at A&E they are not only facing delays before they can be treated, but they are tying up clinicians who need to concentrate on very sick patients.
'Reduce the pressures''Reduce the pressures'
A Cardiff and Vale spokesman said the number of people attending the city's A&E department was currently manageable but people should contact NHS Direct if they were unsure whether they should attend.
A spokesperson said: "Staff are managing demand but we would remind patients to 'choose well' and think very carefully before going to A&E."
A spokesperson for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: "We continue to remind the public that they can do their part to help reduce the pressures on emergency departments by 'Choosing Well' to ensure emergency services are available to those who most need them."A spokesperson for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: "We continue to remind the public that they can do their part to help reduce the pressures on emergency departments by 'Choosing Well' to ensure emergency services are available to those who most need them."
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board covers the whole of north Wales.
A spokesperson said: "Like all health boards, we are currently experiencing increased attendances to our three A&E departments.
"The situation is being managed and we would like to thank our staff for their dedication in ensuring care is delivered during these busy times.
"Busy A&E departments can help those who need urgent help and people who are very ill or badly injured."
'Speedy treatment''Speedy treatment'
Cwm Taf University Health Board - which covers Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil - said it had postponed a number of operations this week.Cwm Taf University Health Board - which covers Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil - said it had postponed a number of operations this week.
Assistant director of operations Kath McGrath said: "We have not seen a considerable surge in attendances at our A&E departments, however hospital sites are busy.Assistant director of operations Kath McGrath said: "We have not seen a considerable surge in attendances at our A&E departments, however hospital sites are busy.
"This is the result of the recent bank holidays combined with the seriousness of patients' illnesses on admission."This is the result of the recent bank holidays combined with the seriousness of patients' illnesses on admission.
"We encourage all patients with minor injuries to seek speedy treatment at our minor injury units at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon and Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda.""We encourage all patients with minor injuries to seek speedy treatment at our minor injury units at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon and Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda."
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - which covers the former Gwent area - has been asked to comment.Aneurin Bevan University Health Board - which covers the former Gwent area - has been asked to comment.
Powys Teaching Health Board does not have any A&E departments.Powys Teaching Health Board does not have any A&E departments.