IN the face of winter pressures the health board has cancelled some planned operations as it urges residents to avoid A&E if possible.

Hywel Dda University Health Board wants Pembrokeshire people to use alternative healthcare services in the community while significant pressures bite.

Along with other health boards across the country, Hywel Dda is also postponing some planned operations to “safely accommodate the volume of patients requiring emergency treatment”.

Deputy medical director Dr Roger Diggle, said: “Hospital and primary care services within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area are responding to extremely high levels of emergency patient demand during the post Christmas period.

"We are very grateful to our staff for their continuing efforts in supporting patients during this challenging period.

"In order to safely accommodate the volume of patients requiring emergency treatment, some planned operations have been postponed although we are striving to keep this to an absolute minimum and our hospital teams are reviewing this on a daily basis. Patients will be contacted should their planned operations need to be postponed.”

Over the festive period the Health Board said it had put additional medical and support staff in place to manage increased demand.

But the health board is urging anyone with a non-urgent medical complaint to make full use of alternative community services such as pharmacists or by self care at home when appropriate, ensuring that the GP Out of Hours service and A&E are used for urgent care only.

With GP practices in the area facing higher than normal requests for home visits and appointments, patients are also asked to consider whether they can get to the practice to be seen to help ensure that all patients can access the care that they need.

The Health Board has been working with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, local authorities and the third sector to prepare for the busy period ahead.

This year the health board is signposting people towards community pharmacies, which can see and treat people with minor ailments and avoid them having to go to their GP or A&E department.

The Common Ailments Service covers 26 conditions whereby a pharmacist can assess and provide medication at no charge, if suitable, without the need for a prescription. The service allows patients to seek advice or treatment from a participating community pharmacy, rather than their GP, for a defined list of ailments.

Patients in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are also being urged to use the health board’s Triage and Treat service in participating community pharmacies if they have a low-level injury or illness, in a bid to free up pressure on busy A&E departments this winter.

For the advice about self care and how to access alternative health services, please visit the Hywel Dda website.