A Welsh health board remains in “critical incident escalation” for a fifth day. Aneurin Bevan University Heath Board declared a critical incident on Monday, January 13 due to “sustained pressures” on the hospital system which has continued through the week.
The decision was taken due to the health board, which manages healthcare across Newport, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Blanaeu Gwent, “experiencing exceptional demand”. A spokesperson confirmed that this had been caused by a combination of increased emergency attendances of unwell patients, high levels of winter virus infections on wards, and continuing high numbers of patients awaiting discharge.
The health board added that remaining in critical incident escalation “allows us to focus on ensuring safe care for our patients during this exceptionally challenging time.” People are being asked to attend hospital only “if it is a life-threatening emergency or you have a very serious injury.”
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In the latest update about the situation at hospitals under the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, a spokesperson said: “Further to our public statement on Monday (13th January), we remain in a Critical Incident Escalation due to the sustained pressures on our hospital system.”
They added: “We kindly ask for your continued support by only attending our hospitals if it is a life-threatening emergency or you have a very serious injury. For non-emergency medical needs, we encourage you to consider visiting your local pharmacy or GP, using online resources such as NHS 111 Wales for advice and guidance, or calling NHS 111 if you need urgent primary care outside of GP surgery hours.”
Aneurin Bevan is not the only Welsh health board facing significant pressure this winter. Swansea Bay University Health Board said that flu and respiratory illnesses are causing “significant challenges in our hospitals”. The public are being asked to stay away from A&E departments “unless absolutely necessary”.
A spokesperson for Swansea Bay University Health Board told WalesOnline on Friday, January 17: “As is the case across Wales, flu and other respiratory illnesses are continuing to cause significant challenges in our hospitals. As a result we have strengthened our response in order to protect patients and staff. There has also been an increase in staff absence because of flu, something which is causing particular operational pressures given the time of year.
“We would also urge the public to not come to the Emergency Department (A&E) unless absolutely unavoidable. Alternatives include the Minor Injury Unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, which can treat adults and children over one with minor injuries to the body such as cuts, burns, sprains, strains, dislocations and broken bones. However, it CANNOT deal with illnesses, suspected heart attacks, chest pain or stroke.
“Local pharmacies are also a good source of advice and medication, while the NHS 111 Wales website provides advice on symptoms and next steps. We’d like to thank our communities for working with us during this challenging period.”
Meanwhile Andrew Carruthers, Hywel Dda University Health Board chief operating officer, added: “All of our hospital sites continue to work under a high level of demand and patient acuity. Our staff remain focused on providing the best care for our patients who need our services. If you are feeling unwell and unsure what to do, the NHS 111 Wales website should be your first point of call.”
At the end of December, four Welsh health boards asked visitors to wear masks across their sites. Hywel Dda Health Board asked visitors to Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli to wear face masks, while Cardiff and Vale University, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University and Aneurin Bevan Health Boards are asking visitors to wear masks at all their sites.
On Thursday, January 16, a spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said they are facing “significant pressures” across all services but has since announced an end to mandatory mask wearing due to the incidence of respiratory infections decreasing across the CTM region.
Soaring cases of viruses are partly behind the huge pressure on the Welsh NHS. The latest figures from Public Health Wales show that flu cases are “approaching peak levels” in Wales as hospitals continue to creak at the seams. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here
Earlier this month 15 ambulances were pictured outside Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen with one person reportedly spending 10 hours inside one of the vehicles rather than receiving treatment inside the building. The health board said the hospital was operating under significant pressure, but there have been similar scenes outside other Welsh hospitals.
And at the end of 2024, on December 30, the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a ‘critical incident’, saying at the time that there were more than 340 calls waiting to be answered and that more than half of the Trust’s ambulance vehicles were stuck waiting to hand over patients outside hospitals. The critical incident was stood down on January 1. Other Welsh health boards have been approached for comment on the current situation at their hospitals.