Ambulances have been queuing up outside a hospital due to "significant pressure" facing the NHS. Some were forced to receive treatment inside ambulances parked outside Glangwili hospital's A&E.
At one point, there were 15 ambulances parked outside the A&E entrance at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen on New Year’s Day. One person told WalesOnline a relative was taken to the hospital on Monday and had to stay inside an ambulance for more than 10 hours. To get the latest Carmarthenshire stories sent directly to you for free, click here.
Before Christmas, another patient was told to expect a wait of up to seven hours for an ambulance to arrive at his home despite it being less than a mile from Glangwili Hospital. On Monday, Hywel Dda University Health Board asked people not to attend A&E at Glangwili or Withybush Hospital (in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire) unless it was absolutely necessary - if they were suffering from a life-threatening or serious illness or injury.
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That plea has been repeated on Tuesday, January 2, with the health board saying some patients are being treated outside the hospital due to increased pressure over the past 36 hours. Keith Jones, the health board’s director of secondary care, said: "Despite the incredible efforts of our staff over the Christmas and New Year period, we unfortunately saw an increase in the number of ambulances delayed at some of our hospital sites over the past 36 hours.
"All our emergency departments and hospitals are operating under significant pressure this morning (Monday) with some patients waiting longer than usual before we can admit them and some patients receiving treatment on board ambulances. Our hospital and community-based teams are working hard to prioritise existing patients for discharge today and, wherever possible, to support patients in their own home environment. We ask people to think carefully before attending our emergency departments.
"If you are unwell and unsure what to do, you can visit the online symptom checker or call NHS 111 if you are unsure what help you need. We are asking people to please only attend an emergency department if they have a life-threatening illness or serious injury. If they have a less serious injury then please visit one of our Minor Injury Units. They can treat adults and children over 12-months of age. We have minor injury or walk-in services at our main acute hospitals. For details, please check our website. Many community pharmacies can also provide walk-in, common ailment or triage and treat services without an appointment. "
