Earlier today, staff working at Abergavenny’s largest hospital appealed to the public for donations of fans after coming under severe pressure as a result of the impact the red weather warning has brought with it.
The alert, which has been in force since 9am and will now now be revoked until at least 11.59pm tomorrow , is already causing issues at Nevill Hall hospital in Abergavenny, which has seen some staff members resort to social media to appeal for donations of fans to keep patients as cool as possible.
One person working at the hospital took to a town social media group with the following appeal.
“Is there any business out there that would like to donate any fans for the ward 4/4 Nevill hall hospital please? Anything is much appreciated. We do raise funds throughout the year. Unfortunately because of the hot weather prices have gone up on the fans”
Another staff member on a different ward also made an appeal for industrial fans to help keep patients and staff cool.
“Would anyone like to donate industrial fans for our patients on ward 4/2 NHH?” they said.
“Would be deeply appreciated in this heat wave as the fourth floor can be extremely hot , thank you for any support.”
However, in a response to this article, ABUHB welcomed the kind offers of donations from the public the poured in after, but it has urged them to make sure that any donations go through their website first.
A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: "We are aware of social media posts relating to staff asking for donations of electrical equipment."
“The staff members who shared the posts were well-meaning, and we completely appreciate their desire not to take resources away from patient care."
“However, we do have established processes in place to provide electrical appliances for staff areas. These processes are important to ensure safety standards are met.”
"We would like to thank local people for offers of donations, as well as everyone who has shown support. That generosity is genuinely valued.”
"For those who would like to contribute, donations can be made through the Aneurin Bevan Health Charity to help enhance facilities for staff and patients. Details are available at:https://abuhb.nhs.wales/about-us/making-a-donation/"
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has joined others across Wales in declaring a Business Continuity Incident.
“We are currently experiencing exceptional demand across our hospitals due to a combination of increased emergency attendances of sick patients with heat-related symptoms, being unable to safely care for patients in some areas of our hospitals that are not air-conditioned, and the high number of patients who are awaiting discharge, along with staffing difficulties due to school closures over the coming days,” a spokesperson said.
“As seen across other areas of Wales, we ask for your support by only attending our Emergency Department if it is life threatening, or you have a very serious injury.
“We would urge our communities to stay as safe as possible and look after each other during this period of extreme heat by keeping hydrated, seeking shade and avoiding overheating wherever possible.”
“If you need medical help, please think carefully about the services you choose. Choosing the right place to receive advice and care will help us ensure that our hospitals are not overwhelmed and enable us to provide timely treatment for patients most in need. Please consider visiting your local pharmacy, your GP, visit https://orlo.uk/UGJMP or call NHS 111 for advice. You can also ring 111 if you need to access urgent appointments when your own GP surgery is closed.”
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