Call for Welsh Government to ‘deploy’ Deeside field hospital to alleviate pressure at Wrexham Maelor in wake Coronavirus spike
A Welsh Parliament member has called for the temporary field hospital in Deeside to be “deployed“ to help “alleviate pressure” on Wrexham Maelor as the hospital deals with a spike in coronavirus cases.
There are between 70 and 80 cases of coronavirus at Maelor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board confirmed on Tuesday, an increase of around 10 from the previous day.
Shadow Minister for Health, Andrew RT Davies MS has claimed Wrexham Maelor is becoming “increasingly overwhelmed” and non-covid patients are being “dangerously exposed.”
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said it has now instigated universal screening for all patients on wards where there has been COVID-19 positive patient.
“This is in addition to screening every patient admitted to our hospitals. All patients who test positive are appropriately isolated and all infection prevention and control measures are in place.” Said Gill Harris, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr.
Welsh Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies, said: “This is a very alarming situation at Wrexham Maelor with a huge surge in coronavirus cases.
“We’re hearing of distressing scenes on hospital wards that are becoming increasingly overwhelmed and where non-covid patients are being dangerously exposed to those entering the hospital environment with the virus.”
“Labour’s health minister needs to get on top of this situation urgently and all avenues must be explored by the Welsh Government including deploying the Enfys field hospitals in the region to help alleviate pressure at Wrexham Maelor and protect patients.”
Enfys Glannau Dyfrdwy – Rainbow Hospital Deeside – is one of three Rainbow Hospitals in North Wales, the other two are in Bangor and Llandudno.
The temporary 430-bed hospital in Deeside – built at a cost of around £13.9m – has remained unused during the pandemic but is expected to remain on standby through the winter due to concerns over a potential second wave of coronavirus.
The temporary hospitals in North Wales were established to reduce occupancy in BCUHB’s main hospitals during the pandemic. As well as preventing admissions they were designed to help “step-down” patients, who had received treatment at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd Hospital and Wrexham Maelor Hospitals, to recover and eventually return home.
The temporary hospitals were not designed to cater for patients needing intubation, so ventilators were not items of equipment fitted within Rainbow Hospitals.
Welsh Conservatives are also looking to tomorrow’s 21 day lockdown regulations announcement, with Shadow Minister for Covid-19 Recovery, Darren Millar MS, calling for the Welsh Government to ease lockdown further. Mr Millar’s party has issued a new list of seven changes they would like to see announced tomorrow:
- Relax the two-metre social distancing rule (with mitigating measures)
- Make face coverings in shops mandatory
- Permit people to meet in larger groups of up to five households outdoors
- Extend social bubbles to allow people to meet more loved ones indoors (up to three households at a time and including overnight stays)
- Re-open theatres and bingo halls
- Re-open indoor gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools, and equestrian centres
- Allow indoor weddings and receptions at more venues
Commenting, Darren Millar MS, said: “The people of Wales are enduring the toughest coronavirus restrictions in the UK and it is high time that their hard work in preventing the spread of the virus was rewarded.”
“I urge the Welsh Labour-led Government to carefully consider all of the items on our list to restore more freedoms for people in Wales to meet and spend time with their loved ones, have more fun, get fit and get wed. Our plans will also help more businesses and activities to become more viable.”
“These freedoms have or are being safely restored in other parts of the UK and people in Wales should be able to enjoy them too. We need to continue to re-open our society and economy while protecting lives and livelihoods.”
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