Carmarthenshire Health Bosses Urge Medical And Dental Patients To Use A&E Sensibly
Health bosses in Carmarthenshire are urging people to visit A&E and call an ambulance only if an emergency situation arises after figures revealed a rise in patient numbers.
Members of the Hywel Dda Health Board said Glangwili Hospital and three other hospitals in Carmarthen have experienced a sudden increase in patient numbers, which has placed greater pressure on staff and resources.
A spokeswoman for the health board said the influx of patients has increased pressure on emergency departments and urged people to choose the right healthcare provider. Ambulances should only be called in emergency situations to ensure there are sufficient vehicles to reach genuine emergencies.
For people who have minor injuries and illnesses, there are other options including going to a GP, pharmacy or minor injuries unit. Emergency dental care is available from out-of-hours dental services and many practices now offer evening and weekend appointments.
Mark Brandreth, director of planning and operations at the health board, said hospitals across Wales are busy and ambulance services do not have the capacity to deal with non-emergency situations. The latest figures show ambulance calls are currently 22 per cent higher than predictions for this time of year and that hospitals and ambulance services are under serious pressure.
A spokeswoman for the health board added that GP surgeries, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacies can provide information, advice and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, while NHS walk-in clinics are also available in many cities.
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