Withybush hospital has taken the extraordinary measure to cancelled all inpatient operations in the interest of patient safety.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said the decision to cancel inpatient operations today (Monday, January 6) at four hospitals - Bronglais, Prince Philip, Glangwili and Withybush - came after an "extraordinary weekend".

In a statement issued by the Health Board, they said: "It has been an extraordinary weekend for our health service, with critical pressures being felt across all of our hospital A&E departments, GPs and our community services.

"In the interest of patient safety, Hywel Dda University Health Board has made the decision to cancel inpatient operations today (Monday, January 6) at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush hospitals.

"All outpatient appointments are continuing as normal.

"We are contacting patients affected directly so please attend as planned if you do not hear from us. Otherwise, please do not contact our appointments or outpatient teams unless absolutely necessary as they are very busy at this time.

"If you are unwell, please be aware that you may experience long waits for a GP appointment and at our A&E or MIU units at this time, for which we wholeheartedly apologise. If there are other services you can use, such as community pharmacies, please do so."

Plaid Cymru's Shadow health minister, Helen Mary Jones, has accused the Welsh Government of mismanagement after the cancellations.

She said: “The health board’s difficult decision today is deeply concerning.

“It is worrying that there isn’t sufficient capacity in the system to deal with these pressurised situations when they arise and strongly suggests that there is a serious issue of under-resourcing across the whole health and care system in the Hywel Dda University Health Board region – and all of it is happening under Labour’s watch.

“I will be challenging the Labour Health Minister who is responsible about health in Wales on what he is going to do to tackle his and his government’s continued mismanagement of our health system in Wales.

“In the meantime, I pay tribute to our brave frontline Welsh NHS staff who do incredible work under increasingly difficult circumstances. Staff and patients in Wales deserve so much better."

The conservatives shadow health minister, Angela Burns, echoed many of Plaid's comments. 

She said: "

Shadow Health Minister, Angela Burns, said: "An ‘extraordinary weekend of pressures’? It seems that Wales NHS suffers from extraordinary pressures month in, month out.

“What I find extraordinary is that the Welsh Labour Government cannot manage the NHS in Wales nor can it plan for the New Year and Winter, bearing in mind that it has been, so far, a very mild season. Nor should we forget that Hywel Dda has a history of cancelling elective and inpatient operations in January.

“If the managers of a health board feel the need to cancel operations, then it reflects poorly on their ability to forward plan for routine, seasonal contingencies, and I worry how Hywel Dda will cope with a real crisis if one arises.

“The dedicates and hardworking frontline staff of the hospitals affected must feel very frustrated, and I urge the Health Minister to get a grip of this situation before it escalates.”

The health board has asked people not to attend an emergency department or GP practice if they have symptoms of infectious illness such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or symptoms of flu.

"Flu and norovirus are circulating and for the majority of people, these can be treated safely at home," a Health Board spokesman said.

However, the vulnerable - very young, frail elderly, living with long term or chronic conditions - or those with worsening symptoms should seek medical advice.

Dr Philip Kloer, Medical Director at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “First I’d like to thank all my NHS colleagues across our hospitals, primary care and in the community for their commitment to our patients at this highly pressurised time.

“This weekend saw our hospitals at a level of escalation not seen before and it is in the interest of patient safety that we have postponed planned operations today. I understand this may be frustrating for those who have waited for their operation and I apologise for this.

“In response to the pressures being experienced today, we are redeploying staff to areas where additional support is needed, including contacting staff currently on leave. We are also working with our colleagues in the local authority and the families of those well enough to be discharged to ensure our medically well can go home or to an appropriate care setting as soon as possible.”

If you or a loved one are unwell or injured, you can help as there may be other services that can provide the care that you need:

• Online symptom checker: Check your symptoms online at NHS Direct Wales here https://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/selfassessments/
• Self-care - A lot of illnesses can be treated in your home by using over the counter medicine and getting plenty of rest. Keep a well-prepared first aid kit at home: Bandages, plasters, thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings, medical tape, and tweezers.
• Pharmacies – your local pharmacy can do much more than dispense medication. From treatment for low-level injuries such as sprains and strains to free confidential NHS advice and treatment for a range of common ailments such as back pain, eye infections to chickenpox, your pharmacist can help. Find out what services are available at your local pharmacy by visiting hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/communitypharmacy