COVID-19 has not gone away

COVID-19 has not gone away and we are currently seeing increasing numbers in the Hywel Dda community across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

This is resulting in more COVID-19 patients in our hospitals, higher demand on primary and community teams, and challenges in staffing.

The health board is rescheduling a small amount of planned care, to ensure critical services are maintained, with patients affected being contacted directly.

Urgent and emergency services continue to run, along with other scheduled appointments, but people may need to wait longer than usual and will be clinically prioritised.

There are ways in which the general public can assist.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Director of Operations Andrew Carruthers said: “We are doing all we can to ensure we support teams on the ground to continue to provide critical services in challenging circumstances. This means we are rescheduling a very small number of operations. We are also making some adjustments to staffing where there are challenges in particular teams, so that we can provide as much support as possible where it is needed most.

“The general public can help the NHS in many ways. Essentially everything you do to reduce the spread of transmission and use NHS services responsibly helps us to help you.”

• If you feel unwell and it is not a medical emergency, you could be seen and treated quicker at your local pharmacy or minor injury/walk-in service. The health board website can guide you to choose the most appropriate service for where you live https://hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/urgent-and-out-of-hours/
• If you are unsure what help you may need, please use the 111 symptom checker in the first instance – https://111.wales.nhs.uk/selfassessments/ – or call 111
• In a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk (such as unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, a suspected heart attack or stroke, chest pain, heavy blood loss, serious injury or severe burns), you should dial 999
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 stay at home and take a test and if positive isolate forminimum of five days (you can take an LFD test on days 5 and 6 and if both are negative you can leave isolation, otherwise isolation ends after10 days) LFD tests can be ordered here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
• We are currently asking patients (even if they do not have symptoms) to take an LFD test before travelling to any of our facilities (you will have direct instructions if you need a PCR test)
• Hospital visiting is on a limited basis with prior agreement, please phone the ward first to agree
• At hospital please observe social distancing, wear a face covering and wash hands frequently

Thank you for helping to keep Hywel Dda safe.