Co-operation between West Wales hospitals continues
Hospitals in the south of Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) area continue to work together to ensure provision of 24/7 medical services for patients whilst there are fewer than usual junior doctors in place.
Since the start of the month, the catchment areas for Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen; and Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli; have stretched further west; whilst the medical bed numbers at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest have been temporarily reduced to match the level of medical workforce available.
Currently, additional medical capacity has been created at Prince Philip Hospital, by converting a surgical ward into a medical ward, but the University Health Board is now proceeding with plans to re-open that surgical ward and create extra capacity at Glangwili Hospital instead.
Hywel Dda UHB Medical Director Dr Philip Kloer explained: “We are extremely proud of our staff for working together across professions and hospital sites to ensure we provide urgent care to our sickest of patients, keeping 24/7 medical intake and unscheduled care in all our hospitals.
"We would also like to thank the public for bearing with us and apologise to anyone who has had their planned surgery postponed as a result. We are working as quickly as we can to return the surgical ward at Prince Philip Hospital so that we can regain capacity for planned procedures for our population and reduce waiting times.”
Work to create an additional, temporary, medical ward at Glangwili will begin soon and additional temporary staffing to support this activity is being secured.
In the meantime, when international doctors join Withybush Hospital, there are plans to increase beds numbers in line with this. The additional ambulance paid for by the University Health Board is also working well and supporting the transfer of patients in the west and south of the area.
As the busy Bank Holiday weekend approaches, Hywel Dda UHB wishes to thank patients and families who are ‘choosing well’ and supporting the discharge of patients who are medically fit from hospitals.
Dr Kloer said: “By using the most appropriate health services, patients should receive the best and most appropriate care in the most timely way possible, as well as helping us to deliver care where it is needed most. We would like to thank our population for their continued support in this regard.”
If you need assistance in choosing the right health service to meet your needs, visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/choosewell
Since the start of the month, the catchment areas for Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen; and Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli; have stretched further west; whilst the medical bed numbers at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest have been temporarily reduced to match the level of medical workforce available.
Currently, additional medical capacity has been created at Prince Philip Hospital, by converting a surgical ward into a medical ward, but the University Health Board is now proceeding with plans to re-open that surgical ward and create extra capacity at Glangwili Hospital instead.
Hywel Dda UHB Medical Director Dr Philip Kloer explained: “We are extremely proud of our staff for working together across professions and hospital sites to ensure we provide urgent care to our sickest of patients, keeping 24/7 medical intake and unscheduled care in all our hospitals.
"We would also like to thank the public for bearing with us and apologise to anyone who has had their planned surgery postponed as a result. We are working as quickly as we can to return the surgical ward at Prince Philip Hospital so that we can regain capacity for planned procedures for our population and reduce waiting times.”
Work to create an additional, temporary, medical ward at Glangwili will begin soon and additional temporary staffing to support this activity is being secured.
In the meantime, when international doctors join Withybush Hospital, there are plans to increase beds numbers in line with this. The additional ambulance paid for by the University Health Board is also working well and supporting the transfer of patients in the west and south of the area.
As the busy Bank Holiday weekend approaches, Hywel Dda UHB wishes to thank patients and families who are ‘choosing well’ and supporting the discharge of patients who are medically fit from hospitals.
Dr Kloer said: “By using the most appropriate health services, patients should receive the best and most appropriate care in the most timely way possible, as well as helping us to deliver care where it is needed most. We would like to thank our population for their continued support in this regard.”
If you need assistance in choosing the right health service to meet your needs, visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/choosewell
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