Morriston Hospital under ‘exceptional pressures’ as over 80 emergency patients wait for beds

During a Business Continuity Incident or ‘black alert’, the health board diverts staff from non-acute areas of healthcare, they also enlist the help of more agency staff and in some cases the military.

BCIs are triggered only under exceptional circumstances, and an extremely high number of acutely unwell emergency patients waiting for beds – currently more than 80 – resulted in the BCI being called.

Morriston’s Medical Director, Dr Mark Ramsey, said everything possible was being done to discharge patients who no longer needed acute medical care so the very ill patients could get beds.

He said: “We are expecting the hospital to be extremely busy in the forthcoming days due to the seasonal drop in temperature which can trigger more illnesses.

“With emergency and unscheduled care under such extreme pressure, the public are being asked to avoid coming to the Emergency Department unless they are seriously ill or badly injured.”

The health board is asking people to only attend Morriston’s Emergency Department if they are experiencing severe breathing difficulties, severe pain or bleeding, chest pain or a suspected stroke, or serious trauma injuries.

For minor injuries, the health board suggests people try the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister, Russell George MS said: “Following the black alert issued for Wales’ largest hospital earlier this month, I had hoped that no further hospitals would have to endure such extreme pressures as have been described at Morriston Hospital. This all boils down to 25 years of Labour mismanagement of our Welsh NHS.

“The Labour Welsh Government have no targets for reducing overall waits and have refused to listen to Welsh Conservative calls for a workforce plan in the vein of Rishi Sunak’s with a tuition fee refund for healthcare workers at its heart. Our Welsh NHS is critically understaffed.”

In a joint statement, Welsh Conservative Senedd Members for South Wales West, Dr Altaf Hussain MS and Tom Giffard MS added: “Just yesterday the First Minister failed to reassure expectant parents that Swansea Bay maternity services are safe. The Labour Welsh Government need to get a grip of the situation in Morriston Hospital quickly before it gets completely out of hand.

“The Labour Government would rather spend £120 million sending 36 more politicians to Cardiff Bay than reverse their real terms cut to our health service to support hospitals in the Swansea Bay area.”

Dr Ramsey said: “Families and loved ones can play a key role in supporting us if they are able to take their relatives home as soon as possible, or help out temporarily with the additional support needed until a care package is in place.

“It is also in patients’ best interests to leave hospital on time, as they can be harmed by a prolonged stay in hospital caused by inactivity and the risk of exposure to infections. Going home as soon as possible is much better for their recovery and general wellbeing, and also where most people want to be.” 

The health board say there are around 300 patients in Swansea Bay hospitals who have completed their medical treatment but are still in beds, many because they are waiting for additional support or a package of care to be put in place before they leave.

The health board added that they continue to work collaboratively with local authorities to support patient discharge.