Welsh A&E departments have seen a significant rise in the number of patients in the last week.
On Monday, the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff reported a 25% increase in attendances at their A&E. On the same day, Morriston Hospital in Swansea had their highest ever levels of attendance with more than 300 patients.
The Minister for Health and Social Services Lesley Griffiths said she has been closely monitoring the situation.
She said: “It is worth noting this is not a Wales-only problem. Accident and Emergency departments and ambulance services are experiencing a increased pressures across the border.
“This sharp rise in demand is being managed by senior executives at Local Health Boards and the Welsh Ambulance Service.
“In addition, to help manage the pressures, NHS Wales are holding executive conference calls twice a day. Chaired by the Welsh Ambulance Service they include all Local Health Boards and Welsh Government officials. These calls will continue until the pressure has eased.”
The NHS has been re-prioritising some clinical staff to help with the pressures. GPs and local Primary Care teams have been actively involved in supporting hospitals by managing patients wherever possible in their communities.
Ms Griffiths added: “The public have an important part to play at this challenging time for emergency care services by using the most appropriate healthcare service to their needs and thinking before attending the Accident and Emergency Department or dialling 999. The free to download Choose Well application provides advice on which service to use when ill or injured and details of how to find them. The app is available for iPhone and Android smartphones.
“NHS staff continue to work extremely hard to care for patients during this period of pressure on hospital and emergency services, and my officials will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
What will happen if the 'South Wales Plan'reduces our cover still further to only four or five A & E in the whole of South Wales? Running hospitals on lean business lines is not always correct. We need to maintain in readiness a reserve for busy times like this and also for the possibility of war or other unforseen emergency.
This means maintaining local A & E cover, the NHS is not a business it is a service paid for by the people. Let us hope that the people in charge, meaning the politicians elected, start listening to what people want their money spent on and working to meet their aspirations.