Hywel Dda cancer experts urge patients to come forward for treatment / Mae arbenigwyr canser Hywel Dda yn annog cleifion i ddod ymlaen i gael triniaeth

Hywel Dda cancer experts urge patients to come forward for treatment

Cancer experts from Hywel Dda University Health Board are urging patients to come forward for diagnostic tests and treatment amid concerns that many are not seeking the care they need due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite putting in place strict patient pathways and infection control measures across all of our hospital sites, the health board is concerned that patients are avoiding accessing treatment and care, after new figures pointed to a 49 per cent reduction in cancer referrals since March.

General practitioners are also urging people to phone their local surgery if they think they might have symptoms of cancer, such as a new lump, pain, bleeding or sudden weight loss.

Mr Jegadish Mathias, Cancer Lead at Hywel Dda, said: “We understand why people may feel they need to stay away due to the current COVID pandemic but we have very clear designated “green” areas in the hospitals for both diagnostic tests and treatment.  We want people who have cancer to know we’re very much open for business.

“We’re having to be creative and do some things differently to help protect patients and our colleagues, but all cancer key workers are still in their usual roles, so if you have any worries at all then please get in touch in the usual way.”

Dr Llinos Roberts, a GP at Tumble Surgery, added: “Even though we’re living in extraordinary times it’s so important that people live the best life that they can.

“The health service that we can offer is different but it’s still going on – GPs are still working.  Even though the doors are closed at present we can still offer advice and assess patients.  But I am concerned that patients are not contacting us in the numbers that we would expect.”

Carrie Speake, a patient receiving chemotherapy treatment at the Pembroke Haemotology and Oncology Day Unit (PHODU) at Withybush General Hospital, said that people had “nothing to be afraid of” about accessing care.

She added: “It’s been fantastic.  The team here are amazing, everybody is just so caring.

“It’s lovely to come and have that social interaction.  The measures that the health board have put in place are absolutely brilliant.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of – nothing at all.”

Mae arbenigwyr canser Hywel Dda yn annog cleifion i ddod ymlaen i gael triniaeth

Mae arbenigwyr canser o Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda yn annog cleifion i ddod ymlaen am brofion diagnostig a thriniaeth ynghanol pryderon nad yw nifer yn ceisio’r gofal sydd ei angen arnynt oherwydd y pandemig COVID-19 parhaus.

Er ein bod wedi sefydlu llwybrau cleifion llym a rhoi mesurau rheoli heintiau ar waith ar draws pob un o’n safleoedd ysbyty, mae’r bwrdd iechyd yn poeni bod cleifion yn osgoi cael mynediad at driniaeth a gofal, ar ôl i ffigurau newydd dynnu sylw at ostyngiad o 49 y cant mewn atgyfeiriadau canser ers mis Mawrth.

Mae Meddygon Teulu hefyd yn annog pobl i ffonio’u meddygfa os ydynt yn credo y gallai fod ganddynt symptomau canser, megis lwmp newydd, poen, gwaedu neu golli owysau yn sydyn.

Meddai Mr Jegadish Mathias, Arweinydd Canser yn Hywel Dda: “Rydym yn deall pam y gallai pobl deimlo bod angen iddynt gadw draw oherwydd y pandemig COVID cyfredol ond mae gennym ardaloedd “gwyrdd” dynodedig clir iawn yn yr ysbytai ar gyfer profion diagnostig a thriniaeth. Rydyn ni am i bobl sydd â chanser wybod ein bod ni’n dal i fod yma.

“Mae’n rhaid i ni fod yn greadigol a gwneud rhai pethau’n wahanol i helpu i amddiffyn cleifion a’n cydweithwyr, ond mae’r holl weithwyr allweddol canser yn dal yn eu rolau arferol. Felly, os oes gennych chi unrhyw bryderon o gwbl, cysylltwch â ni yn y ffordd arferol.”

Meddai Dr Llinos Roberts, Meddyg Teulu ym Meddygfa Tymbl: “Er ein bod ni’n byw mewn cyfnod rhyfeddol, mae hi mor bwysig bod pobl yn byw’r bywyd gorau y gallan nhw.

“Mae’r gwasanaeth iechyd y gallwn ei gynnig yn wahanol, ond mae’n dal i fod yma – mae meddygon teulu yn dal i weithio. Er bod y drysau ar gau ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn dal i gynnig cyngor ac asesu cleifion. Ond rwy’n poeni nad yw cleifion yn cysylltu â ni yn y niferoedd y byddem yn eu disgwyl.”

Meddai Carrie Speake, claf sy’n cael triniaeth cemotherapi yn yr Uned Dydd Haemotoleg ac Oncoleg yn Ysbyty Cyffredinol Llwynhelyg, nad oes angen i bobl fod ag ofn am gael mynediad at ofal.

Ychwanegodd: “Mae wedi bod yn ffantastig. Mae’r tîm yma’n rhyfeddol, mae pawb mor ofalgar.

“Braf yw medru cymdeithasu o ryw fath. Mae’r mesurau y mae’r bwrdd iechyd wedi’u rhoi ar waith yn hollol wych.

“Does dim byd o gwbl i’w ofni.”