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Covid and other factors putting pressure on local hospitals – and how you can help

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IMPORTANT news release from the Hywel Dda University Health Board: The board is taking action to ensure critical care for patients most in need is delivered in hospitals, community and primary care settings, despite widespread system pressures.

NHS bodies across Wales, and indeed the UK are facing multiple challenges including the impact of staff leave and self-isolation, difficulties in discharging medically-fit patients, high emergency demand, and within the Hywel Dda area, an increase in Covid-19 patients being admitted to our hospitals.

In response to this situation, Hywel Dda UHB has re-introduced some temporary measures, with the aim of continuing to provide as much planned surgery as possible, while also ensuring that we have the necessary ability to safely care for patients in emergency situations. This is in the midst of what remains an extremely challenging, ongoing pandemic.

Measures include taking the difficult decision to temporarily suspend elective orthopaedic surgery at Prince Philip Hospital and Withybush Hospital, so we can provide more bed capacity in non-Covid-19 areas and reduce pressures on our unscheduled care system. However, significant theatre work, treatment and investigations still continue across our sites.

The health board can also confirm that, as of Wednesday (01 September 2021), we have temporarily closed admissions and visiting to one ward at Glangwili Hospital to manage a Covid-19 outbreak, with additional precautions also being taken at a further two wards. Visiting to all wards remains restricted and by appointment only. For any queries please contact the ward manager to discuss.

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.

“I want to be clear that our urgent and emergency care services remain open for people who need to use them, and the measures we are putting in place will help to ensure that we can see these patients. Our skilled and compassionate staff are using their skills to prioritise and care for patients in the best way possible, and we are so grateful to them. However, we are still very much in this pandemic, which continues to disrupt our everyday lives, and unfortunately one of the consequences of this is that we are having to bring back temporary measures, including postponing some surgery in the short term, to ensure we can safely care for patients.

“The rise in cases in Hywel Dda shows that, whilst hospital admissions are not as high as in previous waves, COVID-19 remains a serious risk to our health and our health service. I’m appealing to everyone to continue doing their bit by sticking with the ‘keep safe’ behaviours that have been shown to reduce spread of the virus. Without your help, we will see more cases which puts individuals at risk and can disrupt delivery of public services here in west Wales.”

Over the course of the pandemic the health board has introduced a number of new ways of working to help see and treat patients across both primary and secondary care, including remote telehealth and telemedicine clinics run by our GPs, and our Waiting List Support Service, which is designed to help manage patients and their care while they wait for their operation or procedure.  A significant amount of work in theatres and other care is still continuing across all of our sites and we are extremely proud of our staff for their continued efforts to deliver this.

How you can help:

  • For urgent and emergency care only, call 999 – our hospitals are continuing to see patients who have medical emergencies. There are measures in our hospitals designed to keep patients as safe as possible and people are urged to seek urgent medical attention if they need it. Remember – you still need to wear a mask and observe social distancing in all healthcare settings.
  • If you have a non-urgent need, please seek alternatives to A&E such as visiting the 111 symptom checker https://111.wales.nhs.uk/ visiting your local community pharmacy or calling your doctor’s surgery
  • Be community spirited – If you have a relative waiting to be discharged from hospital, please support them in their journey home and help settle them once they arrive. Check up on friends, family and neighbours.
  • Protect the NHS – and Keep Wales Safe. By following government guidance you can help; visit https://gov.wales/coronavirus View our video on ‘keep safe’ behaviours, which features local staff from public services https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W4bBjpPYtw
  • Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, including cold and flu-like symptoms, must self-isolate and book a test via: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119 as soon as possible. By doing this, you can help to reduce the risk of further spread of the virus across our communities.
  • Get your vaccine – this is the best way to protect you and others form COVID-19 https://hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccination-programme/

Crime

Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen

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POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.

The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.

Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.

A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

“Quote reference: 24*355571”

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Community

Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine

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FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.

The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.

This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.

Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”

The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.

This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

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News

Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations

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SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).

The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.

Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”

The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?

If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.

A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.

West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.

Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.

The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.

The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.

“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.

“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”

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