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| All routine surgery is postponed across north Wales | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| All routine planned surgery across north Wales this week has been postponed due to "increased pressure". | |
| The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said the move affects Wrexham Maelor hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan. | The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said the move affects Wrexham Maelor hospital, Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan. |
| Urgent operations will continue, as well as eye and orthopaedic surgery at Abergele Hospital. | Urgent operations will continue, as well as eye and orthopaedic surgery at Abergele Hospital. |
| A rise in emergency health care had led to significant pressures on A&Es, the health board said. | |
| Escalation procedures | Escalation procedures |
| Many patients have been elderly and frail and they are having to stay in hospital longer which has resulted in increased pressure on beds. | Many patients have been elderly and frail and they are having to stay in hospital longer which has resulted in increased pressure on beds. |
| In a statement, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said: "As part of our normal escalation procedures for dealing with such pressures, the health board has therefore decided to reduce routine planned surgery at the three hospitals for this week. | In a statement, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said: "As part of our normal escalation procedures for dealing with such pressures, the health board has therefore decided to reduce routine planned surgery at the three hospitals for this week. |
| "Urgent operations, such as those for patients with cancer, will still go ahead as will eye surgery and orthopaedic surgery at Abergele Hospital and day case procedures. | "Urgent operations, such as those for patients with cancer, will still go ahead as will eye surgery and orthopaedic surgery at Abergele Hospital and day case procedures. |
| "This situation is being reviewed on a daily basis." | "This situation is being reviewed on a daily basis." |
| 'Under constant review' | 'Under constant review' |
| Prof Matt Makin, medical director and director of clinical services, said: "I want to apologise to every patient who will be inconvenienced by this decision. | Prof Matt Makin, medical director and director of clinical services, said: "I want to apologise to every patient who will be inconvenienced by this decision. |
| "I know that people have to make special arrangements so that they can come into hospital for an operation and I am sorry for the difficulties and disruption that this will cause. | "I know that people have to make special arrangements so that they can come into hospital for an operation and I am sorry for the difficulties and disruption that this will cause. |
| "This is not a decision that we have taken lightly. | "This is not a decision that we have taken lightly. |
| "However, we have to make sure that we are able to provide safe services for people who need emergency care, and at the moment our hospitals are facing very severe pressures. | "However, we have to make sure that we are able to provide safe services for people who need emergency care, and at the moment our hospitals are facing very severe pressures. |
| "We will be keeping the situation under constant review, and will make arrangements to re-book patients for their treatment as soon as possible." | "We will be keeping the situation under constant review, and will make arrangements to re-book patients for their treatment as soon as possible." |
| The move comes two weeks after an internal health board email revealed Wrexham Maelor hospital was "log-jammed" and others in north Wales were in a similar situation. | The move comes two weeks after an internal health board email revealed Wrexham Maelor hospital was "log-jammed" and others in north Wales were in a similar situation. |
| The email which was sent to BCUHB staff urged "any actions necessary to facilitate discharge" of patients. | The email which was sent to BCUHB staff urged "any actions necessary to facilitate discharge" of patients. |
| 'Worrying' | |
| North Wales Lib Dem AM Aled Roberts said the announcement was very worrying. | |
| He said: "Many patients are already waiting too long until they receive treatment, it's therefore a concern that many will now have to wait even longer. | |
| "This announcement has been very sudden. It is essential that if the health board is considering extending the suspension of services beyond next Monday, then patients are informed as soon as possible." | |
| The Conservatives' shadow health minister Darren Millar said it was a worrying shut down that communities did not deserve. | |
| He said: "The vulnerable and elderly will be hit hardest and families will rightly question the reasons behind this crisis. | |
| "The simple fact is that Welsh Labour's inability to recruit permanent staff, and Carwyn Jones's legacy of record-breaking NHS cuts, have left health boards hanging by a thread." |