Urgent cancer treatments still going ahead in Gwent

Urgent cancer treatments are continuing to go ahead across Gwent, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has confirmed.

Last week, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, which covers Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf, cancelled urgent medical procedures due to the number of coronavirus patients currently requiring treatment.

But Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) has confirmed no such action has been taken here.

A spokesman for ABUHB said: “The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause significant disruption to our NHS services.

“We have continued to provide care as normal to patients who need urgent treatments, including urgent cancer surgery, with the risk to each patient being individually assessed and patients being prioritised on the basis of clinical urgency.”

According to statistics published by Welsh Government, 43% of people in hospital in ABUHB currently have, or are recovering from, Covid-19.

As of Tuesday, January 19, there are currently 596 people in hospital with coronavirus in ABUHB, with a further 777 people in hospital for other reasons.

But while urgent surgery continues, non-urgent surgery and routine appointments continue to be postponed.

In December, ABUHB postponed all non-urgent surgery and appointments as it faced a rapidly growing number of Covid-19 admissions.

A spokesman for ABUHB added: “We are continuing services wherever possible, with the most urgent cases being prioritised. Patients will be contacted directly to arrange their treatment and care.

“This approach does mean that many routine appointments and treatments have been postponed.”

Public Health Wales and ABUHB have urged people who develop cancer related symptoms not to delay speaking to their GP.