On behalf of Hywel Dda University Health Board, thank you for everything you are all doing to support us in the NHS and people in our communities to stay safely at home. The outpouring of kindness and help from our own staff, communities, businesses, local authority partners, Welsh Rugby Union, the Military, retailers, the voluntary sector and more, has been overwhelming. These are extraordinary times and everyone is stepping up in quite extraordinary ways. We are working together in new ways at great speed which will enable us to weather the storm better together.
In the last few weeks significant reconfiguration work has taken place at all our four main hospitals, Bronglais, Withybush, Glangwili and Prince Philip, to respond to COVID-19. Led by our clinicians and hospital managers these hospitals now have designated areas for the care of both non-COVID-19 and confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. There are temporary facilities (tents or temporary buildings) outside our Emergency Departments, to allow for triaging of different patients. Staff are also designated to work in specific areas, either COVID-19 or otherwise in order to minimise risk and protect patients and staff. We are expanding our critical care capacity and improving oxygen flow on our hospital sites.
GP surgeries across Hywel Dda are adopting safe measures to protect the public and staff. All requests for a GP appointment will be triaged by telephone or a video consultation. If a doctor assesses that a patient needs to be seen, they will make that provision.
Opening hours for most Community Pharmacies remain largely unchanged but some may need to work behind closed doors for a period each day due to the high volume of prescriptions needing to be dispensed. All GP practices have been asked to let their patients know what their arrangements are for repeat prescriptions.
In order to be prepared as possible, staff have been deployed and trained in new skills and some former staff have returned to work. We have undertaken specific COVID -19 recruitment campaigns for registered nurses, healthcare support workers, skilled maintenance, laundry, catering, cleaning staff and porters. To date we have made 700 job offers and are about to advertise for additional allied health professionals. We especially thank all those who have applied for jobs with us; your willingness to put yourselves on the front line to help others at this time is both heartwarming and appreciated.
It is essential that as many beds currently within our hospitals are freed up so we can care for COVID-19 patients and other patients who urgently need our care. The three local authorities have been working tirelessly to ensure that patients who are medically fit can leave hospital with the appropriate care support. We are grateful and ask families to continue to help us discharge their loved ones home when they are ready.
All non-urgent procedures and outpatient appointments have been postponed so we are able to respond to the virus. Clinicians are also making risk based decisions in the patient’s best interests in regards to emergency and urgent procedures and care.
In the last few weeks we have been working with our local authority partners setting up field hospitals in seven locations (two co-located) across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. When complete, this will more than double our bed base. The contractors have worked 24/7 to erect the hospitals in record time, advised by the Military and our own clinical, planning and logistical experts. We are also teaming up with private sector partners, including the Werndale hospital, to support our hospitals by treating some of our patients who needs planned care.
We have based all our planning assumptions on the reasonable worst case scenario, mitigated by the social distancing and stay at home measures introduced by the UK Government, which is why it is so important that we all follow these measures.
The additional beds will be in Parc y Scarlets, Carmarthen Leisure Centre, Llanelli Leisure Centre, Selwyn Samuel (Llanelli), Bluestone, and Cardigan Leisure Centre, and a co-located hospital at Penweddig School and Plascrug Leisure Centre, Aberystwyth.
All sites are expected to be up and running by the end of April, with the Carmarthenshire sites operational first. The plan and design of the field hospitals means they can be flexible according to local need in the light of the actual experience of the pandemic here in west Wales.
We also have a dedicated Command Centre up and running which provides the co-ordination of testing for staff and other key workers and a single point of contact for staff enquiries on clinical, operational and workforce guidance. It also helps connect offers of support from local businesses to the health board and matches requests from staff via the email COVIDenquiries.hdd@wales.nhs.uk
It is important that we learn lessons during this outbreak and continue working in the best new innovative ways after the storm has passed. We have set up a Recovery Rethinking and Innovation Group to pull together the learning and experience of staff and patients to improve our services going forward.
Like you all, I am humbled and grateful for the courage, dedication and service of our frontline staff who are putting themselves at risk in the fight against COVID-19.
Your support makes such a difference. We have seen huge kindness shown to staff – from home cooked meals and refreshments to offers of accommodation and hire cars.
It is safer for you and our staff that these kind offers are channelled through our Command Centre (via the above email address) from now on, rather than entering our sites and potentially risking your health and that of others.
Staff have told me how the weekly clapping and the rainbow pictures in windows and on roadsides have unexpectedly reduced them to tears and given them strength. We are all anxious at this time and our staff are no different. They are naturally worried about their loved ones, their own health, their colleagues as well as their patients. Your support is making a huge difference.
We have stepped up and deployed our psychological and wellbeing support to our staff generally and particularly in key areas such as intensive care. We are trying to make sure that all staff have access to the information, resources and the support needed to maintain their emotional and mental health wellbeing. We are putting in place calm rooms to sustain wellbeing during shifts learning from our colleagues in Italy and China.
There has been a lot of media coverage about personal protection equipment for staff. We have been doing, and will continue to do, everything we can to source the right protective equipment for our staff and PPE has been distributed to all clinical areas. But we remain concerned and are grateful to our local manufacturers and schools and communities who have stepped up to help produce safety visors and safety equipment. We are putting in place systems to test and quality assure any equipment we receive and ask all staff to contact the Command Centre if they receive such donations.
In many ways we have been the first in Wales, in the Coronavirus testing units, the construction of field hospitals, trialling the use of hoods successfully for patients with chest issues, and the local manufacturing of a ventilator product. The collective response has been overwhelming and inspirational.
Without all your support it would not have been possible to achieve so much in so little time. Thank you for supporting your NHS. Together we will succeed.
———————————————————————————
Anerchiad gan Maria Battle, Cadeirydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, yn ystod pandemig COVID-19
Ar ran Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, diolch i chi am bopeth rydych chi’n ei wneud i’n cefnogi ni yn y GIG a phobl yn ein cymunedau i aros yn ddiogel gartref. Mae’r caredigrwydd a chymorth gan ein staff ein hunain, cymunedau, busnesau, partneriaid awdurdodau lleol, Undeb Rygbi Cymru, y fyddin, y manwerthwyr, y sector wirfoddol a mwy, wedi bod yn llethol. Mae’r rhain yn amseroedd anghyffredin ac mae pawb wedi ein cynorthwyo mewn ffyrdd eithaf anghyffredin. Rydym yn gweithio gyda’n gilydd mewn ffyrdd newydd ar gyflymder mawr a fydd yn ein galluogi i wrthsefyll y storm yn well gyda’i gilydd.
Yn ystod yr ychydig wythnosau diwethaf mae gwaith ailgyflunio sylweddol wedi digwydd ym mhob un o’n pedair prif ysbyty, sef Bronglais, Llwynhelyg, Glangwilli a’r Tywysog Philip, i ymateb i COVID-19. Dan arweiniad ein clinigwyr a’n rheolwyr ysbyty, mae gan yr ysbytai hyn ardaloedd dynodedig bellach ar gyfer gofalu am gleifion nad ydynt yn rhai COVID-19 a chleifion sydd wedi’u cadarnhau neu eu hamau. Mae yna gyfleusterau dros dro (pebyll neu adeiladau dros dro) y tu allan i’n hadrannau achosion brys, i ganiatáu ar gyfer brysbennu gwahanol gleifion. Mae staff hefyd wedi’u dynodi i weithio mewn meysydd penodol, naill ai COVID-19 neu fel arall er mwyn lleihau risg a diogelu cleifion a staff. Rydym yn ehangu ein capasiti gofal critigol ac yn gwella llif ocsigen ar ein safleoedd ysbytai.
Mae meddygfeydd ar draws Hywel Dda yn mabwysiadu mesurau arbennig i ddiogelu’r cyhoedd a staff. Bydd pob cais am apwyntiad meddyg teulu yn cael ei dreialu dros y ffôn neu drwy ymgynghoriad fideo. Os yw meddyg yn asesu bod angen i glaf gael ei weld, bydd yn gwneud y ddarpariaeth honno.
Nid yw oriau agor y rhan fwyaf o fferyllfeydd cymunedol wedi newid fawr ddim, ond efallai y bydd angen i rai weithio y tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig am gyfnod bob dydd oherwydd y nifer uchel o bresgripsiynau y mae angen eu dosbarthu. Gofynnwyd i bob practis meddyg teulu roi gwybod i’w cleifion beth yw eu trefniadau ar gyfer ail bresgripsiynau.
Er mwyn bod mor barod â phosibl, mae staff wedi cael eu defnyddio a’u hyfforddi mewn sgiliau newydd ac mae rhai cyn-staff wedi dychwelyd i’r gwaith. Rydym wedi cynnal ymgyrchoedd recriwtio arbennig ar gyfer nyrsys cofrestredig, gweithwyr cymorth gofal iechyd, gwaith cynnal a chadw medrus, golchdy, arlwyo, staff glanhau a phorthorion. Hyd yma rydym wedi gwneud 700 o gynigion am swyddi ac rydym ar fin hysbysebu am weithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd. Diolchwn yn arbennig i bawb sydd wedi gwneud cais am swyddi gyda ni; mae eich parodrwydd i roi eich hunain ar y rheng flaen i helpu eraill ar yr adeg hon yn galonogol ac yn cael ei werthfawrogi.
Mae’n hanfodol i gynifer o welyau yn ein hysbytai gael eu rhyddhau fel y gallwn ofalu am gleifion COVID-19 a chleifion eraill y mae angen ein gofal arnynt ar frys. Mae’r tri awdurdod lleol wedi bod yn gweithio’n ddiflino i sicrhau y gall cleifion sy’n feddygol iach adael yr ysbyty gyda’r cymorth gofal priodol. Rydym yn ddiolchgar ac yn gofyn i deuluoedd barhau i’n helpu i ryddhau eu hanwyliaid gartref pan fyddant yn barod.
Mae’r holl weithdrefnau nad ydynt yn rhai brys ac apwyntiadau cleifion allanol wedi’u gohirio felly rydym yn gallu ymateb i’r feirws. Mae clinigwyr hefyd yn gwneud penderfyniadau sy’n seiliedig ar risg er budd gorau’r claf o ran gweithdrefnau a gofal brys ac ar fyrder.
Yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’n partneriaid awdurdod lleol sy’n sefydlu ysbytai maes mewn saith lleoliad (dau wedi’u cydleoli) ar draws Sir Gaerfyrddin, Ceredigion a Sir Benfro. Pan fydd wedi’i gwblhau, bydd yn fwy na dyblu ein sylfaen gwelyau. Mae’r contractwyr wedi gweithio 24/7 i godi’r ysbytai mewn amser arbennig, wedi’u cynghori gan y fyddin a’n harbenigwyr clinigol, cynllunio a logistaidd ein hunain. Rydym hefyd yn sefydlu partneriaeth gyda’r sector breifat, gan gynnwys Werndale, i gefnogi ein hysbytai drwy drin rhai o’n cleifion sydd angen gofal wedi’i gynllunio.
Yr ydym wedi seilio ein holl dybiaethau cynllunio ar y sefyllfa waethaf posibl o ran achosion, a gafodd eu lliniaru gan y mesurau ymbellhau ac aros gartref a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU, a dyna pam y mae mor bwysig inni i gyd ddilyn y mesurau hyn.
Bydd y gwelyau ychwanegol ym Mharc y Scarlets, Canolfan Hamdden Caerfyrddin, Canolfan Hamdden Llanelli, Selwyn Samuel (Llanelli), Bluestone, a Chanolfan Hamdden Aberteifi, ac ysbyty wedi’i leoli yn Ysgol Penweddig a Chanolfan Hamdden Plas Crug, Aberystwyth.
Disgwylir i’r holl safleoedd fod ar waith erbyn diwedd mis Ebrill, gyda safleoedd Sir Gaerfyrddin yn weithredol yn gyntaf. Mae cynllun a dyluniad yr ysbytai maes yn golygu y gallant fod yn hyblyg yn ôl yr angen lleol yng ngoleuni profiad gwirioneddol y pandemig yma yng ngorllewin Cymru.
Mae gennym hefyd ganolfan orchymyn bwrpasol ar waith sy’n darparu cyd-drefnu profion ar gyfer staff a gweithwyr allweddol eraill ac un pwynt cyswllt ar gyfer ymholiadau staff ar ganllawiau clinigol, gweithredol a’r gweithlu. Mae hefyd yn helpu i gysylltu cynigion o gymorth gan fusnesau lleol â’r Bwrdd Iechyd ac yn paru ceisiadau gan staff drwy’r e-bost COVIDenquiries.hdd@wales.nhs.uk
Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn dysgu gwersi yn ystod yr achosion hyn ac yn parhau i weithio yn y ffyrdd arloesol newydd gorau ar ôl i’r storm fynd heibio. Rydym wedi sefydlu grŵp ailfeddwl ac arloesi adferiad i ddwyn ynghyd dysgu a phrofiad staff a chleifion i wella ein gwasanaethau yn y dyfodol.
Fel pob un ohonoch, yr wyf yn ostyngedig ac yn ddiolchgar am ddewrder, ymroddiad a gwasanaeth ein staff rheng flaen sy’n rhoi eu hunain mewn perygl yn y frwydr yn erbyn COVID-19.
Mae eich cefnogaeth yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth. Rydym wedi gweld caredigrwydd mawr yn cael ei ddangos i staff-o brydau bwyd cartref a lluniaeth i gynigion llety a cheir llogi.
Mae’n fwy diogel i chi a’n staff fod y cynigion caredig hyn yn cael eu sianelu drwy ein canolfan reoli (drwy’r cyfeiriad e-bost uchod) o hyn ymlaen, yn hytrach nag ymweld â’n safleoedd ac o bosibl peryglu eich iechyd chi a phobl eraill.
Mae’r staff wedi dweud wrtha i sut y mae’r clapio wythnosol a lluniau Enfys yn ffenestri ac ar ochrau ffyrdd wedi eu gwneud yn ddagreuol a rhoi nerth iddynt. Rydym i gyd yn bryderus ar hyn o bryd ac nid yw ein staff yn wahanol. Maent yn poeni’n naturiol am eu hanwyliaid, eu hiechyd eu hunain, eu cydweithwyr yn ogystal â’u cleifion. Mae eich cefnogaeth yn gwneud gwahaniaeth aruthrol.
Rydym wedi cynyddu ein cymorth seicolegol a llesiant i’n staff yn gyffredinol, ac yn arbennig mewn meysydd allweddol megis gofal dwys. Rydym yn ceisio sicrhau bod gan bob aelod o staff fynediad i’r wybodaeth, yr adnoddau a’r cymorth sydd eu hangen i gynnal eu llesiant emosiynol ac iechyd meddwl. Rydym yn rhoi ystafelloedd tawel yn eu lle i gynnal llesiant yn ystod shifftiau gan ddysgu gan ein cydweithwyr yn yr Eidal a Tsieina.
Cafwyd llawer o sylw yn y cyfryngau am gyfarpar amddiffyn personol i’r staff. Rydym wedi bod yn gwneud popeth y gallwn i gael yr offer diogelwch cywir ar gyfer ein staff, a byddwn yn parhau i wneud hynny, ac mae PPE wedi’i ddosbarthu i bob maes clinigol. Ond rydym yn dal yn bryderus ac yn ddiolchgar i’n gweithgynhyrchwyr lleol a’n hysgolion a’n cymunedau sydd wedi camu i’r adwy i helpu i gynhyrchu cyfarpar diogelwch. Rydym yn rhoi systemau ar waith i brofi a sicrhau ansawdd unrhyw offer a dderbyniwn a gofyn i bob aelod o staff gysylltu â’r ganolfan reoli os byddant yn derbyn rhoddion o’r fath.
Mewn sawl ffordd, ni yw’r cyntaf yng Nghymru, yn yr unedau profi coronafeirws, adeiladu ysbytai maes, treialu’r defnydd o orchuddion yn llwyddiannus ar gyfer cleifion â phroblemau ar y frest, a gweithgynhyrchu cynnyrch awyru yn lleol. Mae’r ymateb ar y cyd wedi bod yn ysgubol ac yn ysbrydoledig.
Heb eich cefnogaeth chi, ni fyddai wedi bod yn bosibl cyflawni cymaint mewn cyn lleied o amser. Diolch am gefnogi eich GIG. Gyda’n gilydd byddwn yn llwyddo.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle