Over 2,500 patients helped locally by British Red Cross in bid to ease A&E winter pressures

More than 2,500 patients at Wrexham Maelor’s Emergency Department have been supported by the British Red Cross as part of a new initiative to ease winter pressures.

The charity helped 8,961 patients at seven NHS Wales hospitals between December 17 and January 16 and the work will continue for a further two months.

Since mid-December, the organisation has been operating emergency department support services at seven hospitals – Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen, Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Withybush General Hospital in Haverfordwest, University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan.

The hospital services were put in place as part of the Welsh Government’s £20m integrated winter delivery plan and will run until the end of March.

As part of the scheme British Red Cross staff and volunteers are supporting patients and their family members with non-medical assistance that includes collecting medication, equipment and test results, accompanying patients to other hospital departments such as X-ray and offering emotional support, including to people who are bereaved.

So far a total of 2,532 patients have been supported in the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The Red Cross has also provided transport from hospital and resettlement at home for 153 patients enabling those who are medically fit to leave hospital to do so in a safe and timely manner.

Simple steps like checking that someone has food in the fridge or the right care when they get home can be key to preventing people from falling back into crisis and being hospitalised again.

Red Cross staff and volunteers provide non-medical support so that health professionals can focus on patients’ clinical needs.

This prevents people from getting stuck in hospital unnecessarily, relieves pressures on the system and gives peace of mind to doctors and nursing staff that patients are receiving community care when they get home.

Director of the British Red Cross in Wales Kate Griffiths said: “It is hugely satisfying to see that, in our first month of providing these services, we have already been able to support thousands of patients across Wales.

“We are already enjoying brilliant relationships with hospital staff across the seven emergency departments and the response to our work from patients and medical professionals has been excellent.

“By working alongside and supporting hard-working nurses and doctors, we can help to allow them to focus on delivering first-class medical care to patients.”