Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 1:44 pm on 4 November 2020.
Well, as the Member will know, the Office for National Statistics published their latest weekly report last week, and it indicates that the excess deaths in each country of the UK, but certainly the detail on England and Wales, pretty neatly matches the number of COVID-related deaths we're seeing. And, so, it does show the significant impact that COVID is having across all areas. So, dealing with the COVID pandemic is hugely important in managing excess deaths in all areas.
Again, as the Member will know, we have a critical care base of 152 beds. About a third of our current capacity, and we're over that already, is taken up with coronavirus patients. Now, that means we're already seeing a high number of people with non-COVID causes. We want to maintain that activity through the winter, to make sure that we minimise any harm that is caused by the necessary choices that we need to make to keep control of the pandemic. And again, I'd appeal to everyone in every part of Wales to continue to think about what we should do to reduce harm from COVID, both direct harm as well as the indirect harm that COVID will cause.