Our unscheduled care services are under extreme pressure

Morriston Hospital is under extreme pressure today (Monday 27th November 2023), and our Emergency Department staff are dealing with high volumes of very sick patients. If you have a minor injury or illness, you are likely to face a very long wait if you come to the ED. (See below for alternative ways to get urgent care.) 

We are also appealing to the friends and families of patients in hospital across Swansea Bay to help us discharge them on time.

Through reducing unnecessary delays to patient discharges we can improve the flow of patients through the hospital which, in turn, will help speed up ambulance handovers so that they can get back out into the community more quickly. It is also better for patients’ wellbeing to go home as soon as they are well enough, as unnecessary prolonged stays in hospital can impact their recovery and affect their wellbeing.

Meanwhile, if you need urgent care, please consider alternative ways to coming to the Emergency Department to get help. 

For minor injuries, please try the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Neath Port Talbot Hospital. Go here for more about the MIU and the range of injuries it can treat. But note that the MIU CANNOT treat serious injuries or illness. Please don’t go to the MIU if you have chest pain, suspected stroke etc.

You can also go here to try the NHS Wales 111 online symptom-checker for advice.You can also ring NHS Wales 111 for advice, but lines can be busy, so if possible please visit the webpage above as a first option before calling.

Your local pharmacy can also offer FREE over-the-counter treatments for a wide range of common ailments, once you register with them. They can also offer a limited number of prescription medicines without you needing to go to your GP.  Go here for more information about how your pharamcist can help.  

If you need mental health support, you can ring 111 and choose Option 2 to get through to a team of mental health practitioners.