Accident and Emergency Departments

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 23 March 2022.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 2:35, 23 March 2022

(Translated)

I don't accept that there's a crisis, but I do accept that there is huge pressure on the service at present. I've had another meeting with the chief executive of the ambulance service this morning, as I have regularly, because we are determined to improve the situation. Of course, the thing to remember is the fact that this is part of a whole system, and the fact is that, at present, there are 129 people in Hywel Dda who are ready to be discharged from hospital, but that's difficult because the situation in the care service is so challenging. And it's good that we're working together on solving that particular problem. But it isn't one that we can solve overnight. We have to remember that there are 118 people currently in hospitals in the Hywel Dda area who are suffering from COVID, and that brings additional pressure.

I'm pleased to say that the Welsh Government has been providing additional funding to assist the situation—£25 million. Hywel Dda will receive at least £1 million of this funding to develop centres for primary care. Also, I visited Glangwili recently, and I went to see that same-day emergency care unit. It's worth seeing that service, because what they're trying to do is ensure that people have another means of being seen the same day, rather than their having to go to A&E.