“Staff are truly exhausted, mentally and physically, and they are extremely concerned about what January will bring”

“Staff are truly exhausted, mentally and physically, and they are extremely concerned about what January will bring.”

That is the message from BMA Cymru Wales, British Association of Occupational Therapists, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, GMB, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing Wales, Society of Radiographers, Unison and Unite, which have come together to highlight the impact the rise in cases is having on NHS staff and to urge the public to do all they can to protect the NHS.

Across Wales there are more than 1,800 coronavirus related patients in hospital – higher than the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in April.

The current all Wales rolling seven day figure is currently at 380 per 100,000, which is a sharp increase on the numbers seen immediately after the two week firebreak.

21 out of the 22 local authorities in Wales are seeing a rise in coronavirus cases – with Wrexham’s seven day average currently at 230 per 100,000.

Recent updates have also noted that deaths are also “currently tracking at a higher level than the reasonable worst case scenario”.

Yesterday Vaughan Gething, minister for health and social services, said that despite additional plans being put in place to help the NHS over winter, the rate of COVID-19 transmission “continues to rise across communities in Wales at an alarming rate.”

He also warned that difficult choices will have to be made as services and the health service workforce starts being “stretched beyond the levels that we would normally see at this time of year”.

Mr Gething said: “NHS organisations will need to take action to ensure they stand ready to face increasing levels of COVID-19 in the coming weeks and in the run up to Christmas. My priority remains to save lives and to minimise harm.

“We are starting to see significant pressure on our unscheduled care services.

“NHS Wales is still here for you if and when you need it, but it is beginning to feel the weight of the demands upon it at this difficult time.

“As we move further towards winter, it is vital that our health and social care system in Wales is prepared.

“I am firm in my commitment to support NHS organisations to take local decisions and action to continue to provide care and support to the most vulnerable people in our communities.

“I am choosing to act now before we see sustained surges in demand over Christmas and into the New Year.

“A larger number of people requiring high levels of care is anticipated over the coming weeks as we see higher levels of Covid-19 in our communities alongside visible system pressures which arise in this most challenging period for the NHS.

“We are collectively growing increasingly concerned about the potential risk of harm to patients who require access to essential healthcare services.”

As a result “framework” of actions have been agreed for “local consideration” by NHS organisations, they include, maximising use and deployment of the workforce; ensuring people only access 999 or hospital care if essential; reducing long delays in crucial parts of the system; improving patient flow; and enabling people to leave hospital when ready, reducing the risk of readmission.

It is hoped that these actions will “ease the pressures on the NHS by allowing for services and beds to be reallocated and for staff to be redeployed to priority areas.”

The nine organisations “fully welcomed” all of the measures announced by Welsh Government today and called on health boards to implement without delay, agreeing that NHS staff and patients must be protected.

A statement from the Joint Health Trade Unions, said: “If pressure on the service continues to increase, we must be realistic about what it will mean for patients in hospitals where every bed is full – making treatment difficult and waiting lists longer.

“We are not seeking to change the decision that has been made about Christmas, but we have a responsibility to help minimise any impact on the health service and its staff and patients.

“Staff are truly exhausted, mentally and physically, and they are extremely concerned about what January will bring.

“All we ask, as we have done throughout the pandemic, is that when you make your choices about Christmas, you take the risk seriously and minimise contact as much as possible. Covid-19 has not gone away.”