Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire’s hospitals continue to be extremely busy with a high demand for emergency and urgent care, with the Hywel Dda University Health Board offering fresh advice to those in need of care to avoid critical services being disrupted.

As the NHS crisis across the UK deepens, First Minister Mark Drakeford said last month that the Welsh Government couldn't afford to pay nurses the increase of 19% that they're asking for (which is around 8% higher than inflation), with the Welsh Government offering an increase of between 4% and 5.5%.

With ambulance and nursing professionals across Wales holding strikes in December to protest about poor wages and chronic staff shortages, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has stated that they will continue plans for further strike action in 2023 due to a lack of engagement from the Welsh Government.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said this week that it would be working with the RCN and Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust leading up to the dates of further strike action to ensure patient safety can be maintained with minimal disruption to critical services.

“Our hospitals continue to be extremely busy with many sick patients and continuing high demand for emergency and urgent care,” said a spokesperson for Hywel Dda.

“This means patients are waiting longer than we would want them to. We are working hard with colleagues, particularly from the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust, and local authorities, and we are seeing patients with the highest clinical needs first.

“You may be able to help - If you have a friend, family member or loved one who is medically well enough to be discharged from hospital, please help us by coming to pick them up promptly. This will allow us to admit people waiting for a hospital bed.

“We have minor injury or walk-in services at Cardigan Integrated Care Centre, and Tenby Hospital, as well as at our main acute hospitals.”

For opening hours, please check the website: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/urgent-and-out-of-hours/

Hywel Dda have stated to only attend an Emergency Department if you have a life-threatening illness or serious injury, such as:

•Severe breathing difficulties

• Severe pain or bleeding

• Chest pain or a suspected stroke

• Serious trauma injuries (eg. from a car crash)

If you 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, with injuries such as:

• Minor wounds

• Minor burns or scalds

• Insect bites

• Minor limb, head, or face injuries

• Foreign bodies in the nose or ear

If you are feeling unwell today and need support, please access the NHS Wales 111 symptom checker online: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/

Many community pharmacies can also provide walk-in, common ailment or triage and treat services without an appointment.

You can find out more here: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/services-and-teams/pharmacy/

“We are working with the RCN and Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust leading up to the dates of further strike action to ensure we can maintain patient safety with minimal disruption to critical services. Thank you for your continued support as always,” added the spokesperson.