Major Covid Outbreak at South Wales Hospital
Planned surgeries scrapped and ambulances diverted to other hospitals
A South Wales hospital is set to divert ambulances away and scrap planned surgeries after a major coronavirus outbreak.
Health chiefs say they need to take "robust action" after cases doubled at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant in one week - now standing at 82.
Health bosses increased cleaning and restricted visitors last week after an outbreak closed two wards but despite these measures infections have continued to spread.
The major outbreak means only urgent cancer surgeries will go ahead.
Paramedics will also be told to take patients to three different hospitals - with the closest being 15 miles away.
The hospital sits in Rhondda Cynon Taf and figures show it has the third-highest level of the virus in Wales.
Plans will come into force at 2pm today (September 30).
A statement from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: "Significant temporary service restrictions will be put in place at Royal Glamorgan Hospital from 14.00 Wednesday September 30 as increased action is taken to contain a COVID-19 outbreak within the hospital.
"Teams have been working at pace to implement robust measures to manage the outbreak, however additional cases linked to transmission within the hospital have been confirmed in recent days with the number of cases currently standing at 82.
"Given the extent of this outbreak, and on advice of Public Health Wales, the Health Board is taking a number of urgent and significant actions to ensure the safety of our staff, patients and communities."
The Emergency Department at the hospital will remain open for walk-in patients and those who can be treated in ambulatory care department.
But patients arriving by the Welsh Ambulance Service, not including children, will be taken to Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, or the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
The self-contained paediatric wards at the hospital will remain open and a review is being carried out on whether the Tirion Birthing Centre will open on October 5 as planned.
Changes are set to be reviewed on a daily basis and decisions will be made in conjunction with Public Health Wales.
Paul Mears, CEO of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said: “We recognise the concern that these temporary changes will cause and would like to assure our patients and communities that managing this outbreak is our key priority.
“Our teams continue to work to take all necessary measures to achieve this and we have taken range of swift and decisive actions to try to manage this outbreak which include immediate closure of affected wards, risk assessments of affected and at-risk wards, reviews of infection prevention and control measures and their implementation, increased testing of healthcare staff and testing of all hospital admissions.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly, and we understand that they will impact our patients, their families, our staff and partner organisations. However, the safety of our patients and staff is of the utmost importance and we believe this is the right course of action, based on the professional advice given to us."