Eight patients have died from Covid-19 in a South Wales hospital where there was an outbreak involving more than 80 people
Six patients are in intensive care at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, north-west of Cardiff
Most operations have been canceled at the hospital and some wards where patients and staff were infected have been closed
The hospital, which is in Rhondda Cynon Taf, one of the areas with local lockdown restrictions, said it was trying to speed up testing of patients and staff
In a statement, he said: ‘Significant temporary service restrictions will be put in place at Royal Glamorgan Hospital from 2 p.m. on Wednesday September 30 as increased measures are taken to contain an outbreak of Covid-19 in the hospital
« Teams are working at a steady pace to implement strong measures to manage the outbreak However, additional cases linked to transmission within the hospital have been confirmed in recent days, the number of cases s ‘currently setting at 82
“Given the scale of this outbreak and on the advice of Public Health Wales, the Board of Health is taking a number of urgent and important steps to keep our staff, patients and communities safe. «
Planned surgery on hold except for a very small number of urgent cancer cases Some adults requiring emergency treatment will be referred to other hospitals in South Wales The autonomous pediatric wards of the ‘Royal Glamorgan hospital will remain open The hospital said changes will be reviewed daily
Paul Mears, CEO of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Council, said: “We have taken a series of swift and decisive steps to try to manage this outbreak, including immediate shutdown of affected wards, l » risk assessment of at-risk services, review of infection prevention and control measures and their implementation, increase testing of health personnel and screening of all hospital admissions
« It is important to clarify that the Royal Glamorgan Hospital is always open to patients requiring emergency services, although we encourage everyone at this time to consider where alternative services can provide the care appropriate to their needs. needs, like the NHS 111 Wales website, minor injury units and GP services «
Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservative shadow minister for health, has called on the Welsh government to explore the use of field hospitals and other health facilities to ease pressure on the Royal Glamorgan
He added: « This is of great concern, especially as many more cases are linked to transmission within the hospital, and questions about processes and protocols therefore need to be asked. »
Royal Glamorgan Hospital
News from the world – GB – Eight patients die in South Wales hospital hit by Covid outbreak
