NHS winter pressures: Doctor says staff in ‘very deep hole’

The BBC reports that a doctor said pressures at a Bangor hospital in January left staff in a “very deep hole”. Dr Mark Payne, clinical director of Betsi Cadwaladr health board, told staff in an email that 20 January was the “worst start to a day” he had seen in 13 years working at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

The email was leaked to the BBC and included that there was no capacity in either A&E or the acute medical unit. The health board said the UK had seen an “unprecedented increased demand”.

Writing to his colleagues, Dr Payne said: “Today, of all days, consultant presence is needed on every ward to ensure anyone who can go home today, goes today and goes early. “That means anyone who does not have a medical need to be here over the weekend. We will have to be risky but the consequences of not doing this are certain to be worse.”

Full story from the BBC, 31 January 2020