Hywel Dda cancels operations after 'critical pressures'

A health board has cancelled planned operations at four of its hospitals "in the interest of patient safety".

Hywel Dda University Health Board made the decision after "an extraordinary weekend" of "critical pressures". On Monday, inpatient operations were cancelled at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush hospitals in mid and west Wales.

The health board said it had contacted the patients affected and outpatient appointments continued as normal. No decisions have been taken yet to cancel more non-emergency operations on Tuesday, it added.

Dr Philip Kloer, the health board's medical director, said the weekend saw hospitals "at a level of escalation not seen before".

"It is in the interest of patient safety that we have postponed planned operations today," he added.

Plaid Cymru's shadow minister for health, Helen Mary Jones, said the decision to cancel operations was "deeply concerning". She said that patients in Wales "deserve so much better".

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Source: BBC News, 6 January 2020