Health
New Covid-19 measures introduced at Withybush General Hospital
FOLLOWING a formal review of COVID-19 activity in its hospitals, Hywel Dda University Health Board says it has reinstated a number of measures at Withybush Hospital due to an increasing prevalence of COVID-19.
These measures, confirmed by the Booard are as follows: (updated 5PM, Monday 4 July 2022):
All staff and visitors to Withybush Hospital to wear face masks (unless exempt) on the hospital site.
Visiting to inpatients/wards to be paused from Tuesday 5 July, except for end-of-life visits and any visits considered necessary through agreement with the ward sister/charge nurse. Visits planned for Monday 4 July will proceed as planned.
People attending an outpatient appointment to attend alone unless they require the support of a carer/relative. A designated partner can attend antenatal appointments or scans and when a mother or birthing person is admitted in labour to the Midwifery-led Unit
Testing of all patients prior to admission
Mandy Rayani, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience, said: “We have made the decision to reinforce these measures at Withybush Hospital to reduce the risk to our patients and staff and thank people for their support and co-operation at this time.
“While the situation at Withybush Hospital and across our other hospital sites will be reviewed and updated frequently, we can all continue to take protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to protect vulnerable people and the NHS.
“We strongly advise anyone in our locality who has the classic symptoms of COVID-19, or who suspects they may have COVID-19 to isolate and take an LFD test. If positive, we urge people to isolate – this will help you to rest and recover while protecting others from the risk of transmission.”
Members of the public with COVID-19 symptoms can still order an LFD test in Wales for free, until 31 July, by visiting www.gov.uk (opens in new tab) and searching ‘order rapid lateral flow kit’. If you, or someone you care for is not online you can telephone 119 between the hours of 7am and 11pm (people with hearing or speech difficulties can call 18001 119).
If you work for Hywel Dda University Health Board and you develop any of the three main symptoms of COVID-19 (high temperature, new, continuous cough or loss, or change to sense of taste or smell), please isolate and access testing as detailed in the staff guidance available from the intranet or from your manager or supervisor.
The health board is also strongly encouraging all members of staff and contractors to undertake and report an LFD test, twice weekly. This is especially important for those working in close contact with patients and service users to safeguard those who are vulnerable in our care.
For up-to-date information, please visit the health board’s website http://hduhb.nhs.wales
Health
Paul Davies responds to St David’s Surgery news
LOCAL Senedd Member Paul Davies has reacted to the news that St David’s surgery in North Pembrokeshire has decided to resign its General Medical Services Contract. It’s understood that for registered patients, care will continue to be provided until the end of October 2024 and patients are being advised to remain registered with the Practice while longer-term plans are developed. Patients will be invited to share their views as to how these services can continue to be delivered after the end of October.
Mr Davies said, “This is a very worrying announcement and patients in the local area will be understandably anxious about what this means for the future.”
“It’s vital that GP services can continue to be delivered in the area in the future and so Hywel Dda University Health Board must be open with patients of the Practice about their plans and address the community’s concerns. Every effort must be made to ensure that patients are able to access services in the long term.”
“I will of course, be raising this with the Welsh Government and urging the Health Minister to do everything in her power to support the Health Board and help ensure patients can access these vital services.”
Health
Doctors to enter pay negotiations with the Welsh Government
BMA CYMRU Wales has suspended forthcoming industrial action for Consultants and SAS doctors following a constructive meeting with the Welsh government to resolve its pay disputes.
As a result of sustained pressure, including three rounds of industrial action by junior doctors in Wales, the Welsh Government has made a significant proposal to form the basis of talks to end the pay disputes with all secondary care doctors including Consultants, SAS and Junior doctors.
Since the meeting last week, the committees representing doctors from all three branches of practice have voted to enter pay negotiations based on this proposal.
The planned 48-hour strike by Consultants and SAS doctors due to take place from 16 April will now be suspended.
Junior doctors have paused plans to announce more strike dates whilst they enter negotiations with the Welsh Government.
The Welsh junior doctors committee, Welsh SAS committee and Welsh consultants committee will now each engage in pay negotiations, with the aim of reaching deals which can be taken separately to their respective members.
Dr Oba Babs Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey co-chairs of the BMA’s Welsh Junior doctors Committee said:
“This is a significant step forward. It is sad that we had to take industrial action to get here, but we are proud of members for demonstrating their resolve in pursuit of a fair deal for the profession.
“Whilst we are optimistic and hope to quickly resolve our dispute, we remain steadfast in achieving pay restoration. Until we reach a deal, nothing is off the table.
“We will continue to work hard to reach an offer that is credible to put to members who will ultimately have the final say.”
Dr Stephen Kelly, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ Consultants committee said:
“The Welsh Government’s recent efforts to reach an end to the pay dispute are encouraging and so we have called off our planned strike for now whilst we allow time and space for negotiations to take place.
“We’re hopeful that we can reach a deal that sufficiently addresses years of erosion to our pay to help retain senior doctors in Wales but remain ready to strike if we’re not able to do so during negotiations.”
Dr Ali Nazir, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ SAS doctor committee said:
“As a committee, we felt that this latest development goes someway to understanding the strength of feeling of our members. We will work hard to reach a settlement that sufficiently meets the expectation of our colleagues who have faced real terms pay cuts of up to a third since 2008/9.”
In August last year, the BMA’s committees representing secondary care doctors in Wales voted to enter into separate trade disputes with the Welsh Government after being offered another below inflation pay uplift of just 5% for the 23/24 financial year. SAS doctors on some contracts were offered as little as 1.5%. This was the lowest pay offer any government in the UK offered and less than the DDRB, the pay review body for doctors and dentists, recommended last year.
As part of their disputes, SAS doctors, consultants and junior doctors carried out successful ballots for industrial action. Since then, junior doctors have taken part in 10 days of industrial action since January this year.
Health
BMA pay disputes – Junior Doctors, Consultants and Specialist Doctors
THE WELSH Government and BMA Wales’ three national committees representing consultants, SAS doctors and junior doctors have today agreed to formal negotiations about pay.
Planned industrial action will be suspended during the negotiations.
A mandate is being developed for the talks with all three BMA branches of practice with the aim of resolving the disputes over pay for 2023-24.
In the context of the most challenging financial position the Welsh Government has faced since devolution, a significant amount of work has been undertaken to identify funding to support the negotiations.
First Minister Vaughan Gething said: “We recognise the strength of feeling among BMA members and that industrial action is never taken lightly.
“This is a government that listens and engages to find solutions. I prioritised a meeting with the BMA directly alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Health to reinforce our commitment to that partnership approach.
“We currently face the most severe financial situation in the devolution era which makes our task far harder. Despite this backdrop, we have worked to identify a way forward that I hope will lead to the successful resolution of this dispute and ensure that doctors can return to work in NHS Wales.”
Cabinet Secretary for Health Eluned Morgan added: “Even in these very challenging circumstances, we have worked in social partnership with the BMA and NHS to maintain patent safety during industrial action.
“But the strikes have been very disruptive to the delivery of NHS services – none of us want to see doctors on strike. I am pleased the three BMA committees have agreed to pause further industrial action and begin formal talks with Welsh Government and hope we can bring an end to this dispute.”
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