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Concerns over missing cancer diagnoses
Rhun ap Iorweth MS (Plaid, Ynys Môn) raised the matter of people missing out on routine healthcare due to concerns over the pandemic.
“….I’ve seen one report that says that as many as 50% of people just didn’t want to see professional health workers during lockdown because they didn’t want to bother the NHS. The Health & Social Care Committee this morning heard that the number of visits to doctors and A&E departments, and so on, have risen – that’s a good thing – Tenovus Cancer Care estimates there may be 2,000 people living with cancer without diagnosis and still haven’t visited a GP because of the pandemic.”
– Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
Health Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth), reminded everyone that the NHS remains open for business for routine care. Things like telemedicine have maybe given people more confidence, but the message remains the same – if you have a serious condition (or suspect so), then seek out help or advice, whether with GPs or at a hospital.
In-hospital transmission suspected as cause of Royal Glamorgan outbreak
Shadow Health Minister, Andrew RT Davies MS (Con, South Wales Central), focused on the news earlier today that an outbreak of Covid-19 at Llantrisant’s Royal Glamorgan Hospital has resulted in more than 80 confirmed cases and 8 deaths.
A similar outbreak occurred at Wrexham Maelor Hospital earlier in the year. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board – as of 2 pm this afternoon – has started to redirect patients to other hospitals. What lessons were learned from the Wrexham outbreak and how could similar outbreaks be prevented as the NHS enters the busy winter months?
The Minister said it wasn’t as clear cut as there were differences between the two outbreaks as well as similarities.
“What is different about the Royal Glamorgan is we have a higher reservoir of coronavirus within the surrounding community, so a number of people have come into the hospital and needed treatment because of coronavirus, and we also know that some transmission has taken place within the hospital itself. There are risks for every hospital and closed environment if coronavirus takes hold within the staff or the group of people who are either being cared for or living within that environment.”
– Health Minister, Vaughan Gething
The chief executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board will make further statements about emergency measures at the hospital and the Minister is being regularly updated on developments.
