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Hywel Dda University Health Board said it had contacted affected patients directly
A health board has cancelled inpatient operations at four of its hospitals “in the interest of patient safety”.
Hywel Dda University Health Board made the decision after “an extraordinary weekend” of “critical pressures”.
On Monday, operations were cancelled at Bronglais, Glangwili, Prince Philip and Withybush hospitals in mid and west Wales.
The health board said it had contacted the patients affected and outpatient appointments continued as normal.
No decisions have been taken yet to cancel operations on Tuesday, it added.
Dr Philip Kloer, the health board’s medical director, said the weekend saw hospitals “at a level of escalation not seen before”.
“It is in the interest of patient safety that we have postponed planned operations today,” he added.
“I understand this may be frustrating for those who have waited for their operation and I apologise for this.”
He said the health board would redeploy staff where additional support was needed, including contacting those on leave.
“We are also working with our colleagues in the local authority and the families of those well enough to be discharged to ensure our medically well can go home or to an appropriate care setting as soon as possible,” Dr Kloer added.
In a statement, the health board said “critical pressures” had been felt across all of its hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments, GPs and community services.
‘Patients deserve so much better’
Plaid Cymru’s shadow minister for health, Helen Mary Jones, said the decision to cancel operations was “deeply concerning”.
Ms Jones said it suggested that there was a “serious issue of under resourcing” across the entire health board’s region and said it was all happening “under Labour’s watch”.
She said that patients in Wales “deserve so much better”.
Angela Burns, the Welsh Conservatives’ shadow health minister, said: “It seems that Wales’ NHS suffers from extraordinary pressures month in, month out.
“What I find extraordinary is that the Welsh Labour Government cannot manage the NHS in Wales nor can it plan for the new year and winter, bearing in mind that it has been, so far, a very mild season.”
What about other health boards?
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board also said it was under “extreme pressure” in its emergency departments.
It reminded the public: “A&E is for serious accidents or emergencies only!
“There are plenty of other health services that can help with health conditions such as your local dentist, optician, pharmacist, GP or minor injury units.”