High Covid rates reduces NHS capacity to treat people

Responding to the Welsh Government’s review of coronavirus restrictions, Nesta Lloyd-Jones, assistant director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said:

“We continue to call for everyone to behave cautiously and appropriately as we see rising numbers of patients in hospital with Covid. We urge the public to take up the offer of both the Covid booster and flu vaccine.

“Covid-19 continues to have a monumental impact on the delivery of health and care services across Wales – as the prevalence of Coronavirus in our communities rises, this greatly reduces the NHS’ capacity to treat people. We need everyone to do all they can to care for themselves and their families.

“There are many factors affecting NHS capacity; from staff absences because of Covid, or suspected Covid, to more people on wards and in intensive care units needing treatment for Covid. The social care system is also under unprecedented pressure, meaning the NHS is unable to discharge patients from hospital and therefore has much lower capacity to treat others, including those who may have been waiting for treatment for a long time.

“With winter pressures increasing, if it gets to the point where the NHS is unable to cope, action will need to be taken. We urge the public to take precautions where possible, such as wearing a face covering indoors in public places as well as staying at home and getting a test if you have symptoms of Covid-19.”