The expected rise in demand over winter combined with issues with recruitment, staff sickness and the financial position mean that action must be taken to consolidate our services so that can continue to work safely and effectively.
At the moment we don’t provide a consistent service across North Wales. There are areas of very good practice but we also know the experiences of our patients and the outcomes of treatment vary. All our patients deserve and should expect to receive the same high standards of care.
The global financial situation and the state of UK public finances means that we must live within our means and ensure that our services are safe without the ability to make further investments.
We can’t keep trying to do more of what we have always done. We cannot ask our staff to keep working harder and harder and spread themselves ever more thinly. The risk is too great to patients, carers and their families, as well as to the staff and such actions will not improve health outcomes.
To address these issues we will be temporarily changing the function of some of our community hospitals and departments and rebalancing bed capacity to consolidate our emergency services and ensure that our inpatients are cared for in a safe and appropriate setting.
To do this we will be asking some of our nursing staff to work more flexibly and in a different location so that our collective skills and experience are deployed where they are most needed. This will also mean that some services in community hospitals will be transferred and some suspended until the pressures of winter have eased. A full list of the changes in service is detailed below.
By taking these steps we will ensure that bed capacity is not lost and that services are consolidated so that they are as safe and resilient as possible when the usual high demand period over winter
It is also vital that these measures are implemented as a planned, whole North Wales approach rather than have to take emergency action at a local level and increase the safety risk to patients and staff. We anticipate that these measures will remain in place for a period of three months.
We are also working in partnership with healthcare, social care and voluntary colleagues across North Wales and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Temporary Service Changes
Demand for unscheduled care services are rising and the winter is already bringing additional pressures on emergency services. Other services such as minor injury units and day services do not face the same increase in demand during this period. Skilled nurses can therefore be redeployed to boost capacity where it is most needed.
Gwynedd and Anglesey
16 extra beds will be opened at Ysbyty Gwynedd and 4 at Ysbyty Eryri. This will be achieved by temporarily closing a ward at Ysbyty Bryn Beryl and operating the Minor Injuries Units (MIU) at Bryn Beryl from 9-5 Monday to Friday.
Ysbyty Alltwen will continue to provide a 24 hour, 7 day a week minor injuries service.
These changes will support services at Ysbyty Gwynedd, including the Emergency Department.
Conwy and Denbighshire
An additional 6 beds will be opened at Ruthin Community Hospital. This will be achieved by temporarily closing the MIU and asking patients to attend their GP surgery or if necessary Denbigh Community hospital MIU which will continue to operate from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday.
Additional capacity at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Emergency Department will be provided by transferring skilled staff from Colwyn Bay MIU, which will close temporarily.
Llandudno Hospital Minor Injuries Unit will continue to from 8am to 10 pm, 7 days a week.
Wrexham and Flintshire
An additional 6 beds will open at Holywell hospital by temporarily closing Flint MIU and with Holywell providing MIU services 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week...
Mold MIU will be open from 8am to 6pm, 7 days per week to ensure that nurses can continue to provide a safe inpatient service.
All other services will continue to run as normal.
Help us Keep you Healthy
The Health Board is supporting the Keep Well This Winter campaign and advising people on of the best ways to stay safe when it’s cold and icy outside:
- Dress appropriately and wear sensible footwear
- Wrap up warm to help keep the cold at bay
- Stock up on medicine, especially if you have a pre-existing condition such as asthma
- Check on your neighbours, especially older people to make sure they have everything they need
Although taking these simple precautionary measures can help to prevent illness, it is a fact that people are generally more likely to catch colds and flu in the winter.
Therefore, it’s even more important that people know how to use the full range of NHS services to keep them well and out of hospital this winter.
Many illnesses can be treated at home using over the counter medicine such as paracetamol and cold/flu remedies, taking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest.
Local pharmacists can advise on treating minor conditions such as headaches, sore throats or troublesome coughs and colds, and give face to face general health advice.
Self care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses such as colds or coughs. However, for persistent or worsening illness, medical advice should be sought from either your GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
Flu reappears every winter, is highly infectious and spreads fast. For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious.
Andrew Jones, Director of Public Health for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “As most people know, colds and flu spread easily by coughs and sneezes so simple hygiene measures such as covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands with soap and water can help reduce the risk of it spreading.
“The flu jab is a very good way of protecting your health and the health of those close to you. If you are over the age of 65, are in an at-risk group, or are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person you can have a free seasonal flu jab from your GP or Practice Nurse.
“Therefore, I would encourage all those eligible for the jab to have it. Not only will it help protect their health, but also the health of those around them.”
We will also look at how neighbouring community hospitals can support each other. Some staff have agreed to work between hospitals to ensure that patients can be cared for safely and effectively. This will ensure that beds, facilities and the skills of clinical staff are used to their full potential.
For more information visit the Keep Well This Winter website: www.kwtw.org.uk
There are a range of options available to help you Choose Well. NHS Direct Wales can give information on all aspects of healthcare advice on 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
If health problems persist or worsen please contact your GP.