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Health Board asks public to help it manage exceptionally high demand

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Services and emergency departments at Royal Glamorgan, Prince Charles and Princess of Wales hospitals are exceptionally busy this week, and the Health Board is asking for the support of local people to help it manage this high demand.

Staff across the Health Board are working hard to treat and care for patients, including those requiring urgent care. However, with hospital beds already occupied and emergency departments seeing a higher than normal attendance from people seeking care, they are turning to the public for their support.

Here’s what you can do to help:

  • Emergency departments (sometimes referred to as A&E departments) prioritise treatment of the most seriously injured or ill patients. This means that, even if you are there before someone else but have a less serious condition, you will have an extended wait.
     
  • Rather than visiting your local ED, take a look at our website for directions to other nearby services which can help with non-urgent problems - including the Minor Injuries Unit, GPs, Pharmacies, and other specialists - Local NHS Health Services.
     
  • If you’re unsure what to do, use the NHS 111 Wales symptom checker for advice on where to go for non-urgent problems: NHS 111 Wales. This can save you an unnecessary trip to a hospital or other NHS service and help you get the care or treatment you need, more quickly.
     
  • If you have a loved one who is in hospital and ready to be discharged, it can be a huge help to NHS staff if you can help them to get home. This could include making sure their home is warm and ready for their return, or picking them up from hospital.

Remember, if you have any stroke symptoms, have severe blood loss or have suffered a major trauma, please ring 999 or visit an ED straight away.

Go to the NHS website for more information about when it is appropriate to go to an emergency department: When to go to A&E - NHS.

18/12/2024