'It cannot go on like this' Medics plea as hospital admissions continue to rise

Medics in Wales are warning the health service is facing the "worst pressures it has ever seen" as many hospitals deal with a rise in Covid admissions.

Intensive care consultant Dr Ami Jones, from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said increased cases across Wales are now translating into more hospitalisations - with many of those patients unvaccinated.

Dr Jones said hospital staff experienced a "very busy August Bank Holiday" with a "steady stream" of patients requiring intensive care treatment.

Her comments come as Wales recorded more than 8,000 deaths linked to the disease since the pandemic began.

Figures from Public Health Wales show that for the week beginning 22 August, the number of confirmed cases to all hospital wards was 185.

Compare that to the week beginning 16 May - just before Wales moved to Alert Level Two - and the number of cases admitted to hospital was 33.

Another consultant Dr Farbod Babolhavaeji, from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said a combination of rising coronavirus cases and a surge in demand for elective care, made his unit "extremely busy."

His tweet read:

"I just got home from my evening shift in the emergency department. Everything is at its limit. Everyone is working flat out. Every area is full to bursting. Every day a little more is needed. It cannot go on like this. I cannot go on like this."

The seven-day Covid-19 infection rate in Wales, has now risen to 386.6 cases per 100,000 population, which is the highest since January.

Cardiff's infection rate alone is 302.8 cases per 100,000, with the Vale of Glamorgan's being at 342.1.

Despite numbers being a tenth of what they were during the height of the second wave, there are now hundreds more non-coronavirus patients in hospital compared to those in January.

Visits to A&E have also reached pre-pandemic levels with an increase in people visiting A&E has also meant that waiting times have also risen.

7,084 patients waited longer than 12 hours to be seen in July, which is the highest number since reporting began in 2012.

It also means that departments are becoming "dangerously crowded." There are now calls from doctors for people to only go to A&E if it is absolutely necessary.

The Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Wales, Dr Suresh Pillai, warned the situation is "unsustainable" as many staff who have also become ill with the virus, are struggling to keep up with demand.

"The recent rise in Covid cases in Wales is concerning and the health system is facing some of the worst pressures it has ever seen.

"Emergency departments are dealing with a high number of patients with a range of different needs while managing with a reduced capacity and reduced workforce.

"It is essential that elective care is not derailed and patients in urgent need of operations and surgeries are able to receive them and that patients from the community who have sustained injuries or have serious conditions are able to access care in the emergency department."

The First Minister for Wales also raised his concerns around the rising cases saying the Welsh Government is "looking seriously" at introducing Covid passports for large events - which would mean people would have to show proof of their double vaccination status to be allowed to attend.

He told ITV News, if it was "necessary" to introduce some more restrictions, "then that is what we would have to do".