The number of confirmed cases on the wards has risen in line with a surge of confirmed cases in the community, Get the latest Welsh Covid-19 news sent straight to your inbox with the Coronavirus Briefing newsletter. So, at the morning meeting, all wards and departments are trying to identify any patients who might be able to be safely discharged to free up scarce and precious beds - but they are few and far between. The full health board will discuss a paper outlining the plan next Monday. However, an independent panel set up by Health Minister Vaughan Gething to oversee improvements in maternity has found that encouraging signs of progress are now being made during their last review between October and December 2019. We have one consultant for every 15,000 people here, when the UK average is around 7,000 people per consultant. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Its important to state that Royal Glamorgan hospital is still open for patients requiring emergency department services, although we would encourage everyone at this time to consider where alternative services can provide the care suitable for their needs such as the NHS 111 Wales website, minor injury units and GP services.. In a statement, it said: Significant temporary service restrictions will be put in place at Royal Glamorgan hospital from 2pm Wednesday 30 September as increased action is taken to contain a Covid-19 outbreak within the hospital. "About 40% of the patients that we have are predominantly medically fit for discharge and are just awaiting to go home," she says. It's just after dawn and senior staff at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital are holding their morning meeting. We certainly weren't expecting this degree of a second wave at this stage. Big credit to local campaigners who put forward their case so strongly & made the health board & Welsh Government sit up and listen. During . I have to say, they were angels," said Mr Walsh. ", Do you understand the coronavirus rules in Wales? Cases of Covid-19 have been steadily rising across our communities and it is vital is that we all play our part in helping to reduce the spread of the virus through social distancing, good hand hygiene, the wearing of masks and PPE in appropriate settings and following the latest government measures on further restrictions. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Local health bosses have recommended that a full-time A&E department should be kept at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, BBC Wales has been told. You can check the latest hospital visiting guidance here. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. But that wasn't straightforward, given a number of the hospital's usual wards were reporting staff shortages. The unit was heavily reliant on locum doctors and had been forced to close twice over the Christmas period due to a lack of cover. The Tirion Birthing Centre, which has been temporarily closed during the pandemic, is due to re-open on October 5. . The unit was heavily reliant on locum doctors and had been forced to close twice over the Christmas period due to a lack of cover. Covid-19 in Wales: What do the stats tell us? "The evidence highlights the rise in cases in the 40-plus age group and shows that the virus is not just affecting the elderly or vulnerable. Because once the hospital is full, the pressure in A&E, for example, becomes critical. "This will further worry people seeking medical treatment. ", How to spot the difference between a cold and Covid-19. But Dr Biswas, a dad-of-one who lives in Cardiff, claimed that trying to staff the wards at the hospital remains an issue. A specialist team is said to be meeting daily and a number of key measures have been put in place to respond to and manage these cases, including: Dr Kelechi Nnoaham, director of public health for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said: "The health and wellbeing of our patients and staff is our number one priority and we take infection prevention and control measures extremely seriously. Bigorre.org. Visiting in "exceptional circumstances" may still be possible but will need to be discussed with relevant ward managers, they added. They have been worried about poor transport links between some valleys communities, and that other hospitals had been prioritised for investment instead of the Royal Glamorgan. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board says the paediatric wards at Royal Glamorgan Hospital will remain open, however it is looking into whether plans for The Tirion Birthing Centre, which has been temporarily closed during the pandemic, can be reopened. In the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area, consultant-led maternity care has been centralised at Prince Charles Hospital. "Cases of Covid-19 have been steadily rising across our communities and it is vital is that we all play our part in helping to reduce the spread of the virus through social distancing, good hand hygiene, the wearing of masks and PPE in appropriate settings and following the latest government measures on further restrictions.". The department's only full-time consultant had announced he was leaving in April, and it was understood only 12% of middle-grade shifts were covered by full-time doctors. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board said it was taking "robust action" after 34 positive cases at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Six in intensive care after more than 80 cases at Royal Glamorgan in Llantrisant. Royal Glamorgan hospital in Llantrisant remains open for patients requiring emergency department services. The accident and emergency department at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital could close as part of plans by the health board to reduce services. "It is everyones responsibility to turn this situation around. "The health and wellbeing of our patients and staff is our number one priority and we take infection prevention and control measures extremely seriously," said Dr Kelechi Nnoaham, Cwm Taf's director of public health. It meant ambulances had to be re-directed to the Prince Charles Hospital In Merthyr Tydfil or the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend. Two wards at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital have been closed due to a coronavirus outbreak, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Sign Up Log In Messenger Facebook Lite Watch Places Games Marketplace Facebook Pay Oculus Portal Instagram Bulletin Local Fundraisers Services 2023 BBC. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has. Meanwhile, back in A&E, as the afternoon goes on, the strain is building again. "Social care is a massive issue at the moment in the community. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board said it was taking "robust action" after 34 positive cases at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Dr Nnoaham added it was "vital that we all play our part" in helping reduce the spread of coronavirus. I'm a clinician. DeSantis won't say he's running. The workload they go through is unbelievable.". Please help us fight infection by not visiting our hospitals if you have had D&V symptoms in the last 48 hours. After speaking to Maria I meet Mark Walsh, who spent his 61st birthday at the Royal Glamorgan, waiting for a heart procedure. Campaigners and local politicians have welcomed the recommendation. Im hearing weve won the battle over the A and E at the Royal Glamorgan. ", Ms Davies-Jones added: "This is the result that everyone wanted to see and have worked so hard for. Dr Kelechi Nnoaham, Director of Public Health, said: The health and wellbeing of our patients and staff is our number one priority and we take infection prevention and control measures extremely seriously. Mto aro Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Why is Wales seeing an increase in coronavirus cases? In March 2019, consultant-led maternity services were taken away from the Royal Glamorgan and concentrated at the newly-renovated Prince Charles Hospital. It says there are currently 82 Covid-19 cases at the hospital near Llantrisant, including six in intensive care. "I would like to reassure the public that immediate action has been taken to address this outbreak, and although it is too early to confirm the end of the outbreak, early evidence suggests that this has resulted in the number of infections transmitted within the hospital being contained.". Read about our approach to external linking. It follows major concerns over staffing levels which have become so low that the consultant-led service may no longer be safe or sustainable to run. Phone First for Minor Injury Units in Powys: 01639 844777 1 The . We will provide further advice and guidance within the next 24 hours and will continue to communicate widely with our communities, patients, stakeholders and colleagues to ensure everyone is aware of the temporary changes and what this means for accessing services at Royal Glamorgan Hospital. However, I'm not a scientist or an epidemiologist. On Thursday, September 2, Public Health Wales confirmed 2,275 new positive cases in Wales and five more people had died with coronavirus. The hospital said the changes would be reviewed on a daily basis. "The health and wellbeing of our patients and staff is our number one priority and we take infection prevention and control measures extremely seriously," said Dr Kelechi Nnoaham, Cwm Taf's director of public health. They said: "Robust A&E provision at the Royal Glamorgan is a critical component of health service provision to people in Pontypridd and the wider valleys communities, and we are strongly opposed to any reconfiguration that results in a material dilution of A&E services at the Royal Glamorgan. The health board said early evidence suggested the outbreak was "contained". Given the extent of this outbreak, and on advice of Public Health Wales, the health board is taking a number of urgent and significant actions to ensure the safety of our staff, patients and communities.. But gladly he can go home soon, freeing up a much-needed bed. Teams have been working at pace to implement robust measures to manage the outbreak. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board had been working. It is also working closely with Public Health Wales to increase the number of tests for both patients and staff at the hospital and says it is reviewing the situation on a daily basis. Rhondda MS Leanne Wood said people would be "overjoyed and relieved" at the decision, adding: "It was clear that the campaign to retain 24 hour services had logic, reason and safety on its side. Campaigners and local politicians have welcomed the recommendation. Not all problems are resolved so it makes sense for the campaigners to keep in touch. In the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area, consultant-led maternity care has been centralised at Prince Charles Hospital. The number of confirmed cases on the wards has risen in line with a surge of confirmed cases in the community, it added. "I would like to reassure the public that immediate action has been taken to address this outbreak, and although it is too early to confirm the end of the outbreak, early evidence suggests that this has resulted in the number of infections transmitted within the hospital being contained. It is understood their two preferred options are to make the Royal Glamorgan a minor injuries unit with enhanced community services, while the other is to have doctor-led services for a set amount of time in the day (for example 8am to 8pm). As it turns out it's an opportunity to witness the aftermath of one of the most pressurised days the hospital near Llantrisant has experienced so far this winter. pic.twitter.com/YSldiWgqKy. cwmtaf .wales /visiting /royal-glamorgan-hospital /. What's he waiting for? Covid-19 in Wales: What do the stats tell us? But even with this effort, pretty much all staff tell me there are too many patients medically well enough to leave the hospital who can't - in no small part due to shortages of care in the community. Protesters have voiced strong opposition to plans to downgrade A&E at Royal Glamorgan, An ambulance waits outside the Royal Glamorgan hospital. Changes to children's hospital care have been repeatedly postponed. However, he said he did understand the frustrations of the public due to the mixed messages being given to them by government. News; Agenda; Spectacles. Royal Glamorgan Hospital (A&E) Typical time in department 1: Up to 3 hrs 30 mins . Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed it is looking at four possible scenarios for the future of the Llantrisant-based hospital. Campaigners argued that lives would be put at risk if the department was downgraded. Gemma Pearson, who leads the "stay well at home" team, said: "Of the two assessments we had this morning we've been able to turn them around, they've not needed any involvement. "Its important that if you are displaying any Covid symptoms, or have tested positive, or are awaiting a test result, that you do not visit wards.". But that means other patients can wait for hours, even days, becoming more and more frustrated. "They have to be in a hospital until at least they are negative which puts increased pressure on the hospital," he said. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A separate study of 1,500 hospital cases in the UK in April found one in eight patients who had received coronavirus treatment had caught it while in hospital. A specialist team has put in place a number of other measures, including increasing targeted testing of healthcare staff, testing of all emergency and elective hospital admissions, and limiting social visiting. Plans to concentrate certain services at fewer hospital sites has been slowly implemented since 2014 when the South Wales Programme was first created. In 2014, five south Wales health boards devised a plan to address concerns that maternity care, baby care, children's hospital care and emergency medicine were spread too thinly across too many hospitals. A&E departments become chock-a-block when there's a mismatch between numbers of patients coming in and the beds available on the wards. Royal Glamorgan Hospital: A&E 'to remain fully open' 22 June 2020 Protesters have voiced strong opposition to plans to downgrade A&E at Royal Glamorgan By Owain Clarke BBC Wales health. Speaking of pressures across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, Steve Moore, Chief Executive of Hywel Dda UHB, said: On behalf of the Board, I would firstly like to reassure our communities that what we are doing is all about prioritising patient safety at this time. These included closing A&E at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, but in the intervening period there was little change. Six patients are in intensive care at the Royal Glamorgan hospital in Llantrisant, north-west of Cardiff. There are major concerns that stripping the hospital of its A&E provision will have a disastrous impact on patients in some parts of Rhondda Cynon Taf, such as the Rhondda Valleys where journey times to other hospitals are substantial. We do try and keep everyone's spirits up - we all work as a team.". Thank you everyone who fought for this!! 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