Protecting our communities from Coronavirus / Amddiffyn ein cymunedau rhag Coronavirus

Hywel Dda University Health Board has opened two Coronavirus Testing Units (CTUs) to help protect the health of our communities during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The units are in Cardigan and Carmarthen and more may open in other areas of the health board during the coming weeks to allow the health board to assess, and test more people, protecting them and our wider communities.

CTUs allow the health service to undertake far more tests than can be accommodated through home testing alone. Eligible people, by arrangement through the 111 service and prior appointment only, make their way to the units in their own cars. Once inside the unit, an initial clinical assessment and simple tests (throat swabs) are carried out.

Home testing will continue, by special arrangement in certain circumstances.

The CTUs pose no risk to the public as stringent infection prevention measures are in place to protect people, staff and the wider community. These include strict clinical protocols, specific instruction for those attending, use of separate entrances and exits, and use of Personal Protective Equipment.

Specific locations will not be announced due to the need to protect patient confidentiality, allow for contingency arrangements to be made and for the safeguarding of our own staff.

Under no circumstances should members of the public walk in to these facilities. They are only for people with prior appointment and instruction through the 111 pathway and any other attendances could disrupt our ability to test our patients.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Director of Public Health Ros Jervis said: “We are extremely proud of our staff in Hywel Dda University Health Board who are working hard to protect the health of our communities in response to COVID-19.

“We are working with our local, regional and national partners to implement our planned response and stringent infection control measures.

“Like other health boards, we have been undertaking tests for COVID-19 in people’s own homes. The demand for this is likely to get greater and we have planned additional capacity to deal with this by opening our CTUs. This will allow us to undertake far more tests for appropriate patients, who have used the 111 pathway.

“We are grateful for the co-operation of our communities.”

If you are concerned you may have Coronavirus, please do not attend your GP surgery, the hospital emergency department, minor injury units or any another health setting.

There is now an online COVID-19 symptom checker available from the NHS Direct Wales website. Unless you have travelled to specified areas where you are required to dial 111, please check the information on the symptom checker before you phone.

Everyone can take simple steps to stay well, including good basic hygiene especially washing your hands regularly, using hot water and soap or hand sanitiser. If you have cold and flu symptoms, please use a tissue to catch it, bin it and kill it.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Public Health Wales website for further public information – phw.nhs.wales/coronavirus

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Amddiffyn ein cymunedau rhag Coronavirus

Mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda wedi agor dwy Uned Profi Coronavirus (UPC) i helpu i amddiffyn iechyd ein cymunedau yn ystod yr achosion o COVID-19.

Mae’r unedau yn Aberteifi a Chaerfyrddin a gall mwy agor mewn rhannau eraill o’r bwrdd iechyd yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf i ganiatáu i’r bwrdd iechyd asesu, a phrofi mwy o bobl, gan eu hamddiffyn hwy a’n cymunedau ehangach.

Mae Canolfannau Profi Cymunedol yn caniatáu i’r gwasanaeth iechyd gynnal llawer mwy o brofion nag y gellir eu cynnwys trwy brofion cartref yn unig. Bydd pobl gymwys, trwy drefniant trwy’r gwasanaeth 111 a thrwy apwyntiad ymlaen llaw yn unig, yn gwneud eu ffordd i’r unedau yn eu ceir eu hunain. Unwaith y tu mewn i’r uned, cynhelir prawf syml (gwddf a swab trwynol).

Bydd profion cartref yn parhau, trwy drefniant arbennig mewn rhai amgylchiadau.

Nid oes unrhyw risg i’r cyhoedd gan fod ystod o ragofalon a mesurau atal heintiau wedi’u hystyried a’u rhoi ar waith gan gynnwys protocolau clinigol llym, cyfarwyddyd penodol i’r rhai sy’n mynychu, defnyddio mynedfeydd ac allanfeydd ar wahân, a defnyddio Offer Amddiffynnol Personol.

Ni fydd lleoliadau penodol yn cael eu cyhoeddi oherwydd yr angen i amddiffyn cyfrinachedd cleifion, caniatáu ar gyfer gwneud trefniadau wrth gefn ac ar gyfer diogelu ein staff ein hunain.

Ni ddylai aelodau’r cyhoedd gerdded i mewn i’r cyfleusterau hyn o dan unrhyw amgylchiadau. Maent ar gyfer pobl sydd ag apwyntiad a chyfarwyddyd ymlaen llaw yn unig trwy’r llwybr 111 a gallai unrhyw bresenoldeb arall amharu ar ein gallu i brofi ein cleifion.

Dywedodd Cyfarwyddwr Iechyd Cyhoeddus Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, Ros Jervis:

“Rydym yn hynod falch o’n staff ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda sy’n gweithio’n galed i amddiffyn iechyd ein cymunedau mewn ymateb i COVID-19.

“Rydym yn gweithio gyda’n partneriaid lleol, rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol i weithredu ein hymateb cynlluniedig a’n mesurau rheoli heintiau llym.

“Fel byrddau iechyd eraill, rydym wedi bod yn cynnal profion ar gyfer COVID-19 yng nghartrefi pobl. Mae’r galw am hyn yn debygol o gynyddu, ac rydym wedi cynllunio gallu ychwanegol i ddelio â hyn trwy agor ein Unedau. Bydd hyn yn caniatáu inni gynnal llawer mwy o brofion ar gyfer cleifion priodol, sydd wedi defnyddio’r llwybr 111.

“Rydym yn ddiolchgar am gydweithrediad ein cymunedau.”

Os ydych chi’n poeni y gallai fod gennych Coronavirus, peidiwch â mynychu’ch meddygfa, adran achosion brys yr ysbyty, unedau mân anafiadau neu unrhyw leoliad iechyd arall.

Bellach mae gwiriwr symptomau COVID-19 ar-lein ar gael ar wefan Galw Iechyd Cymru. Oni bai eich bod wedi teithio i ardaloedd penodol lle mae’n ofynnol i chi ddeialu 111, gwiriwch y wybodaeth ar y gwiriwr symptomau cyn i chi ffonio.

Gall pawb gymryd camau syml i aros yn iach, gan gynnwys hylendid sylfaenol da yn enwedig golchi’ch dwylo’n rheolaidd, defnyddio dŵr poeth a sebon neu lanweithydd dwylo. Os oes gennych symptomau annwyd a ffliw, defnyddiwch hances i’w ddal, ei finio a’i ladd.

Anogir aelodau’r cyhoedd i ymweld â gwefan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i gael mwy o wybodaeth gyhoeddus – phw.nhs.wales/coronavirus