This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51032061

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Hywel Dda: NHS operations cancelled for third day in a row Hywel Dda: NHS operations cancelled for third day in a row
(32 minutes later)
Routine operations at four hospitals have been cancelled for the third consecutive day due to issues over winter pressures.Routine operations at four hospitals have been cancelled for the third consecutive day due to issues over winter pressures.
Hywel Dda health board confirmed planned surgery would be postponed in order to "maintain patient safety during periods of peak pressure".Hywel Dda health board confirmed planned surgery would be postponed in order to "maintain patient safety during periods of peak pressure".
Planned inpatient surgery is affected at Bronglais, Prince Philip, Glangwili and Withybush hospitals in west Wales.Planned inpatient surgery is affected at Bronglais, Prince Philip, Glangwili and Withybush hospitals in west Wales.
The health board said it had contacted affected patients directly.The health board said it had contacted affected patients directly.
Health minister Vaughan Gething said the health board was to conduct a review of decisions leading up to the cancellation of routine operations.Health minister Vaughan Gething said the health board was to conduct a review of decisions leading up to the cancellation of routine operations.
"That doesn't mean to say that those decisions are wrong on the information available, but it is about wanting to learn in the here and now," he told assembly members during a Senedd debate."That doesn't mean to say that those decisions are wrong on the information available, but it is about wanting to learn in the here and now," he told assembly members during a Senedd debate.
He also said he believed the health board's leaders had been "doing the right thing" and praised staff for their "exceptional response" during an "exceptional period of time".He also said he believed the health board's leaders had been "doing the right thing" and praised staff for their "exceptional response" during an "exceptional period of time".
Day case procedures and outpatient appointments continued as normal on Wednesday.Day case procedures and outpatient appointments continued as normal on Wednesday.
In a statement earlier, the health board said: "Whilst the situation remains challenging, we are currently assessing our operating plans for the days ahead and, as per normal planning arrangements, these will be reviewed on a daily basis."In a statement earlier, the health board said: "Whilst the situation remains challenging, we are currently assessing our operating plans for the days ahead and, as per normal planning arrangements, these will be reviewed on a daily basis."
Dr Sion James, its deputy medical director, said: "A number of operations are still taking place but some will be postponed after today, but everybody in the board is working as hard as they can to make sure the operations will happen as soon as possible and as safely as possible. Deputy medical director Dr Sion James said the "hospitals are full" due to "a number of challenges" including a norovirus and flu outbreak.
"We'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to patients who have been affected, but this was the only option left for us. Patient safety is the most important thing for us. "A number of operations are still taking place but some will be postponed after today, but everybody in the board is working as hard as they can to make sure the operations will happen as soon as possible and as safely as possible," he said.
"There have been a number of challenges across the health board. We've had the norovirus outbreak, the flu outbreak and it means there are more people in our hospitals. Our hospitals are full." Patient watchdog the Hywel Dda Community Health Council said it was "concerned and disappointed" about the cancellations.
The Hywel Dda Community Health Council said it was "concerned and disappointed" about the cancellations. "Patients and their families will have been waiting months for their operations and now their lives go on hold," said chairman Mansell Bennett.
Chairman Mansell Bennett said: "This will be bad news for many and possibly distressing news for some. Dr Phil Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Welsh consultants committee, said: "There isn't one person to blame for this - this is an issue within the system.
"Patients and their families will have been waiting months for their operations and now their lives go on hold.
"We know patient safety is vital and we know that the NHS and its staff are doing their best in the face of extreme pressures this winter, but the health board must do all it can to ease this situation".
Dr Phil Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Welsh consultants committee, said the organisation was meeting with the Welsh Government on Wednesday and would discuss winter pressures.
He said: "There isn't one person to blame for this - this is an issue within the system.
"There are two factors here - there's the lost operations, people having elective surgery who may become worse and become emergencies as a result."There are two factors here - there's the lost operations, people having elective surgery who may become worse and become emergencies as a result.
"We're hearing reports of cancer surgery now being cancelled as well throughout different hospitals in Wales."We're hearing reports of cancer surgery now being cancelled as well throughout different hospitals in Wales.
"But also the reason why the operations are being cancelled is because surgical beds are full of medical patients, now that puts the wrong type of patient in the wrong hospital bed at the wrong time and they're clearly not getting the care that they should do. "But, also, the reason why the operations are being cancelled is because surgical beds are full of medical patients."
"If we think this is distressing for the staff, having to watch this, this is hugely distressing for families and patients who are on the end of these cancellations and we need to find that capacity immediately."
What are winter pressures?What are winter pressures?
Although the NHS is under pressure all year round, the period after Christmas and the first few weeks of new year is often the most difficult as staff try to deal with significant numbers of seriously ill patients.Although the NHS is under pressure all year round, the period after Christmas and the first few weeks of new year is often the most difficult as staff try to deal with significant numbers of seriously ill patients.
There are several reasons for this - as a result of the festive season's bank holidays, there has been reduced access to community services such as GPs and social care, which can cause logjams to develop in hospitals.There are several reasons for this - as a result of the festive season's bank holidays, there has been reduced access to community services such as GPs and social care, which can cause logjams to develop in hospitals.
During the holiday period, people might also put off getting a potential health problem checked out.During the holiday period, people might also put off getting a potential health problem checked out.
Pressures are also caused because of winter bugs, with the current flu season already looking worse than last year.Pressures are also caused because of winter bugs, with the current flu season already looking worse than last year.
But the latest weekly flu statistics show a slight fall in patients seeing their GP - with Public Health Wales saying it remains at "medium intensity" for the season.But the latest weekly flu statistics show a slight fall in patients seeing their GP - with Public Health Wales saying it remains at "medium intensity" for the season.
There were 197 cases of flu confirmed - and fewer patients turning to out-of-hours doctors' services.There were 197 cases of flu confirmed - and fewer patients turning to out-of-hours doctors' services.
The Welsh Government said it had given £30m to health boards to provide extra capacity this winter.The Welsh Government said it had given £30m to health boards to provide extra capacity this winter.
Helen Howson, the director of the Bevan Commission, a think-tank which provides advice to the health minister, said there were "increased demands on the system".Helen Howson, the director of the Bevan Commission, a think-tank which provides advice to the health minister, said there were "increased demands on the system".
"What we have to do is to make sure that the system that we have in Wales both the health and care system is sustainable for the future, and that will sometimes will require us looking at things differently and addressing things in different ways.," she added. "What we have to do is to make sure that the system that we have in Wales, both the health and care system, is sustainable for the future," she said..
"That will need people to change and for the public to work with us to be part of finding some of those solutions.""That will need people to change and for the public to work with us to be part of finding some of those solutions."
The British Medical Association in Wales said on Tuesday it was concerned lives could be needlessly lost unless there was urgent action to tackle winter pressures.
Meanwhile, First Minister Mark Drakeford said the system "has proved resilient" to pressures in the past two weeks "because of the plans put in place by the health boards, supported by the Welsh Government and that additional investment we have put in place".
Have you experienced long waits in A&E or had your surgery cancelled? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you experienced long waits in A&E or had your surgery cancelled? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below