More than 1,000 ventilators and 7,000 extra hospital beds to meet expected demand

Military planners will help add around 7,000 extra hospital beds and extra ventilators have been bought in to meet the expected demand from coronavirus patients.

The number of coronavirus cases and deaths have continued to rise in Wales, which the Health Minister said is putting 'pressure' on frontline staff and resources.

Critical care capacity has more than doubled across Wales since outbreak. Vaughan Gething said 48% of the 350 critical care ventilated beds in Wales are occupied - half with coronavirus patients.

He said the capacity of ventilators will more than double. There are currently 415 ventilators in Welsh hospitals, but a further 1,035 have been bought by NHS Wales.

The Grange University Hospital was due to officially open in a year's time.

Mr Gething, also said military planners will help add 7,000 extra beds, majority being at field hospitals.

Over the last couple of weeks, preparations have been taking place to create field hospitals across the country.

Stadiums, venues and university facilities across the country are being transformed into field hospitals to be in use within weeks.Principality Stadium, Venue Cymru, and Parc Y Scarlets are just some of the sites being transformed.

  • 2,000 beds at Cardiff's Principality Stadium

  • 350 beds at the newGrange University Hospitalin Cwmbran

  • 873 beds at Llandudno's Venue Cymru, Deeside Leisure Centre and Bangor University.

  • 909 beds at Ty Trevithick in Abercynon, the Welsh Rugby Union's training HQ in Hensol, and care home and community beds.

  • 669 beds at Parc y Scarlets rugby ground, Bluestone holiday village, Selwyn Samuel Centre and Werndale Hospital

  • 1,489 beds at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, Bay Studios and Sancta Maria hospital.

2,500 new staff will help increase capacity, including retired professionals, GP locums and trainees. Credit: PA

He also announced 2,500 new staff will help increase capacity, including retired professionals, GP locums and trainees.

Work is continuing to cope with the expected rise of coronavirus patients. As of Saturday, the death toll reached 154, with 2853 people confirmed to have the virus in Wales.

But as these numbers continue to rise, the health minister recognised the need for not just ventilators and beds, but staffing and medicines too.

On Saturday, the Nurse Director at Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, appealed for 100 extra critical care nurses to help with the response at the hospital.