Plans for “gradual and progressive return to NHS activity” in Wales

Work to reestablish essential services within the NHS in Wales is underway, the Health Minister has said.

Back in March at the start of the pandemic a decision was made by Welsh Government to suspend planned appointments and surgeries across Wales to help the NHS prepare for coronavirus. This included the creation of 19 temporary hospitals, increasing the number of critical care beds and redeploying and retraining NHS staff.

Speaking at today’s Welsh Government briefing Health Minister Vaughan Gething said that as Wales moves past the first peak of the virus, work could begin on providing a “gradual and progressive return” to NHS activity – particularly with essential services.

Health boards have been asked to draw up plans for how this will be implemented across Wales.

Some changes introduced at the start of the pandemic will also be retained, including virtual appointments and telephone triage system’s in general practise to help as the NHS begins to resume a level of normal activity.

People with confirmed or suspected coronavirus will continue to be treated on a special coronavirus ‘pathway’.

The health minister explained that hospitals will have a dedicated coronavirus zones, isolation facilities and a strict infection control in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Mr Gething said: “Essential services mean just that. They include high quality primary care, cancer services, maternity care, diagnostics, rehabilitation and emergency care.

“In resuming resuming services we do not mean returning to doing things as they would have been done in February this year.

“We simply cannot have packed outpatient waiting rooms because people are being automatically recalled every six month for repeat follow up appointments.”

He added: “There are still the equivalent of three district general hospitals full of people being treated for, or recovering from, coronavirus in Wales.

“I want people to have confidence so they can seek help from our NHS when they need it. I do not want people to put off urgent or emergency care.

“But I also want our NHS to be in the best possible place to be able to respond to further peak in coronavirus if or when it comes.”

However questions were asked about the potential “time bomb” of non coronavirus related cases from people who have put off seeking treatment or have had appointments delayed due the pandemic.

The NHS in Wales has seen a drop in the number of emergency department admissions since March. There has also been fear of catching the virus which has meant that patients have delayed or put off seeking help.

Mr Gething said: “In ending many areas of NHS activity in mid-March when I made that choice, it came with consequences.

“It allowed us to prepare for the Coronavirus peak and to save more lives, but it also meant that we put off demand and activity and that will have to be resolved and dealt with.

“At the end of the coronavirus pandemic when it passes, we will be left with lots more activity to undertake.

“The pressure on the health service will not automatically disappear at the end of the pandemic. It will shift into how we undertake a more normal activity, the things that you would normally ask me on a regular basis about about planned activity about emergency departments will have a different shape, because we know there will be more demand that’s been held back.”

However a date wasn’t provided for when cancer screening services will begin again in Wales.

The Health Minister added: “We asked a lot of our health and social care services in normal times. We’ve asked even more of the services, of these people during this pandemic.

“We’ve seen the best of our people and our tremendous staff over the last few months and I want to thank everyone working in the NHS, social care for the incredible dedication they have shown in the face of intense pressure in this once in a century event.”