Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

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Emergency Department & Medical Assessment Unit The way we run our Emergency Departments and Medical Assessment Units at Royal Glamorgan Hospital and Princess of Wales Hospital and Clinical Decision Unit at Prince Charles Hospital has changed, due to the Coronavirus outbreak. All of Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB teams have been working hard to keep patients and staff as safe as possible. Teams in Emergency Departments across our sites have identified separate areas for COVID and non COVID patients to ensure the safety of those receiving care and working in these areas.

All patients will still report to the main Emergency Department reception where they will be given a screening tool to assess their COVID or non COVID status. Patients attending ED will be asked to queue according to Social Distancing guidelines to minimise the spread of the virus.

Below is an update from Nick Lyons (Medical Director) and Marcus Longley (Chair) on Royal Glamorgan Hospital Accident and Emergency Services; To facilitate the Health Board’s response to Coronavirus COVID-19, we are temporarily pausing most activities within the project considering the future of emergency medicine (A&E) and other related services at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Some background work will continue, to consolidate progress that has already been made and to plan for further engagement with the public, staff and our partner organisations in the future. We will not, however, be doing any work that will divert clinical staff from their primary roles. Our primary focus over the coming weeks is to ensure the continuity of essential services. The whole NHS is facing an unprecedented challenge, and this must be our top priority. We are grateful to all those who have participated in the Health Board’s recent engagement events and we look forward to resuming our conversation with the public our staff and elected representatives about options for future service delivery at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital once COVID-19 is under control.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board understand this is a concerning times for patients, families and carers. We want to ensure that where

possible we have provided information to reduce these concerns. We have made contact with individuals

where required to discuss their ongoing health and care needs. The below provides a summary where due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the way we

deliver care has changed.

It is important to note please that this is a quickly evolving situation and we will contact individuals

when any changes if the way we deliver care affects them.

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Visiting Members of the community are asked not to visit any of our hospitals at all, except for in the circumstances below:

The patient is receiving end-of-life care (visiting to be agreed with clinical team) One partner or birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour and in the post-natal

period for a limited time only. No other visitors will be allowed. Paediatrics and neonatal areas (one person only as agreed with the clinical team) New national guidance from the Chief Nursing Officer says that visiting patients not

infected with COVID19 should be permitted for someone with an issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient/service user to be distressed.

Please note that you must not visit if you are feeling unwell, especially if you have a high temperature or new persistent cough. Further advice for relative / friend of admitted patient. We have free WiFi on all our sites, so we’re encouraging families and carers to speak to patients via smartphones and tablets. Apps like Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime allow video communication, but WiFi assisted phone calls and plain emails are also options. We would however ask our patients to abide by these guidelines when using their devices. If you have any concerns regarding your friend or relative then please contact the Patient Advocacy Liaison Service via E mail at cthb_pals@wales.nhs.uk or Telephone 01443 744915.

Laundry Swap To all relatives and friends of patients that are currently an inpatient within Cwm Taf

Morgannwg.

We appreciate your support and understanding that, in order to protect our patients, staff and

yourselves of the COVID-19 virus, we had to adopt the difficult, but necessary, decision in line

with other Health Boards in Wales to stop all visiting to our inpatient hospitals including

dropping off or picking up supplies for patients. We understand that this is an extremely difficult

time for everyone and we want to let you know that our PALS team are here to help you.

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) are on hand to help with a laundry swap service.

The service will arrange to pick up and drop off laundry and essential items for your loved one.

You can contact the PALS team on the below:

Princess of Wales Hospital- 01656 754194 - pow.governanceteam@wales.nhs.uk

Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Glamorgan Hospital - 01443 744915 -

CTUHB_PALS@wales.nhs.uk

Please be aware that in the coming weeks this service may need to be re-assessed in line with

infection control advice. We therefore ask families not to buy expensive items and only use the

service for essential items, as items may not be able to be returned and may need to be disposed

of.

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Appointments & Booking Centre As we deal with the challenge of COVID-19 Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB has postponed routine surgery, outpatient clinics and appointments. Decisions around reducing planned surgery and outpatient activity to ensure clinicians can prioritise delivery of emergency services have been carefully considered. A number of services have also been transferred from one hospital site to another to increase capacity for emergency care. These service changes include clinics from the below specialities: Prince Charles Hospital to Ysbyty Cwm Cynon

Gynaecology – Outpatient Clinic

Cardiology – Heart Failure Nurse Outpatient Clinic

Neurology Outpatient Clinic

Diabetic Retinopathy outpatient clinic

General Surgery - Surgical outpatient clinics

Dermatology outpatient clinic

Rheumatology outpatient clinic

DMARD outpatient clinic

Biopsy Clinic

Urology outpatient clinic

Gastroenterology - outpatient clinic/ Irritable Bowel Disease – Clinical Nurse Specialist

Trauma & Orthopaedics - MSK clinic Royal Glamorgan Hospital to Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda

Obstetrics – Antenatal outpatient department

Cardiology – Outpatient clinics

Dermatology – outpatient clinics

Respiratory outpatient clinics

ENT outpatient clinics

General surgery outpatient clinics

Gynaecology outpatients Princess of Wales Hospital to Maesteg Hospital

Ophthalmology

Dermatology / Gastro and Respiratory Please note, some other services have moved to community locations If you have any urgent queries relating to these service changes please contact Appointment Centre - 01443 443096 Whereby appointments have been cancelled or postponed, patients medical records have been reviewed by a Clinician and the following may occur –

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The Consultant may arrange a further appointment in the near future, but at a different location

The Consultant may telephone you

The Consultant may write to you or your GP regarding any further treatment. If none of the above occur, we will reorganise your appointment when normal services are up and running. If your symptoms deteriorate significantly while awaiting a review, please contact us on the telephone number at the top of your outpatient letter and let the team know which specialist/ waiting list you are on, whereby the team will then arrange a phone call review by a member of the clinical team as soon as possible.

Community Services (DRAFT) The way we are delivering our services from community setting has changed due to covid 19. Further Details to be included from Directorate.

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Trauma and Orthopaedic Service Due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the way we deliver care within the Trauma and Orthopaedic Service is changing. Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB Trauma and Orthopaedic Hub is manned by a consultant between 0900-2100h 7 days a week. The service is currently only operating on urgent trauma cases, being planned in as day cases wherever possible. The consultant led team see any urgent referrals from A&E, Minor injuries Unit, the acute physiotherapy service and GPs. Consultants are available for urgent telephone advice for any of the above and also include;

outpatient specialties inpatient specialties outlying hospital T&O problems

Where appointments have been cancelled due to current circumstances, patients may have received a letter or a telephone call. Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB T&O Hub are trying to minimise hospital appointments, where possible, particularly for vulnerable patients. Patients may receive different splints or plasters, or be asked to remove their own, rather than being asked to clinic to change or check plasters. The health board may choose not to operate on certain injuries if the risk of COVID infection following admission is too great. For those injuries, the health board may need to operate at a later date when safe to do so. Follow up appointments can be carried out by telephone, or could be planned in if patients are having problems and require urgent assistance. The health board are trying to avoid patients having to attend site by using removable splints or referring directly to physiotherapy. Any cancelled routine appointments will be reinstated as soon as deemed safe to do so. If you have any urgent queries relating to T&O service changes please see below contact guidance;

If already under a named consultant, patients can ring the consultant’s secretary on their usual number for advice 0900-1700h Monday to Friday. The secretary will contact the consultant for further advice or review.

For problem with a plaster, the plaster room can be contacted 0900-2100h daily on

01443 443443 ext 74049.

For any urgent queries relating to appointments, the outpatient reception can be

contacted on 01443 443443 ext 73293.

For any urgent problems between 1700-2100h, outpatient reception or plaster room can

be contacted where T&O advice can be sought if appropriate.

For emergencies overnight, between 2100h-0900h that cannot wait until the next day,

patients should either come to A&E or contact the out of hours GP service.

The T&O Hub team can also be contacted by email for non-urgent advice on: CTM_ortho.glam@wales.nhs.uk

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Maternity Services Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s Maternity Services have been making extensive preparations regarding Coronavirus in pregnancy. Please be assured that we have detailed plans in place to ensure the care we give is in line with the current guidance issued by The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and The Royal College of Midwifery, and that all our staff are fully trained. We will be contacting women who have scheduled appointments for antenatal clinics, including scan appointments, before their clinic appointment is due. Please do not arrive early for your scheduled appointments in clinics. Aim to arrive at the scheduled time. Any women who have scheduled home visits for antenatal or postnatal appointments will be contacted before their appointments, for screening purposes, before a midwife comes to see them. We have set up a phone line for anyone who is not able to speak to their community midwife or for our out of hours advice. You can contact us on 01443 443524. Please be patient if you have to wait during these exceptional circumstances. We will be answering calls as promptly as possible. Pregnancy related concerns – Please continue to contact us in the usual way if you have any concerns related to your pregnancy. Coronavirus related concerns – For more information please follow the below link which is an information leaflet for you. RCOG/RCM COVID 19 Advice information leaflet for women If you think you might have Coronavirus, please check the NHS website for information about what to do. NHS Coronavirus self-assessment tool for patients. If you think you might have Coronavirus but also are concerned about your pregnancy, for example if you are concerned about your baby’s movements, please contact us as usual but do tell us about your Coronavirus concerns.

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Sexual Health Due to the current situation, all walk in Integrated Sexual Health Services have been restricted to emergency appointments only. Limited clinics will continue at present, using telephone triage to allow booked appointments for emergencies only. If you already have an appointment booked with us you will also be contacted to confirm it is going ahead before you attend. For urgent queries only please contact: Merthyr/ Cynon – 01685 728272 (Lines are open Mon-Thurs 9.30-15.30 / Fri 9.30-12.00) Dewi Sant Hospital -01443 443836 (Lines are open Mon- Fri9.30-12.00) You will either be given advice via the telephone or advised to attend clinic. Please do not just turn up at the clinic as you will not be able to be seen. Please maintain social distancing and attend alone. Do not attend your appointment if you have symptoms of coronavirus. If you would like information on contraception options please see links to some helpful websites: Contraceptive choices Sexwise

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Paediatric Services If you are unsure to where to go for help with your child's illness, minor ailment or injury, please refer to the following poster provided by Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health (RCPCH), which provides a clear pathway to guide parents as to when and where to seek advice. https://issuu.com/joballrcPrince Charles Hospital/docs/covid19_advice_for_parents_when_child_unwell_or_in Emergency paediatric services can still be accessed across three hospital sites in Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB; Prince Charles Hospital, Royal Glamorgan Hospital and Princess of Wales Hospital. One parent will be allowed to stay with their child at all times. Please see below poster for advice and contact numbers.

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Cancer Services We appreciate that this is a very worrying time for patients with cancer. As a Health Board

we are working to the guidance set out by Welsh Government in terms of maintaining

essential services which includes:

Emergency care

Investigation of patients who have signs or symptoms that have a high chance of being cancer

Urgent surgery

Radiotherapy

Chemotherapy

Decisions on patient treatment are being made on an individual basis, with the Consultant in

conjunction with the patient. All of our cancer teams are holding outpatient clinics to see

urgent referrals, the majority of which are on non-acute hospital sites to protect our

vulnerable patients. For those patients who require urgent surgery this is being undertaken.

Cancer Nurse Specialists are contacting all follow-up patients virtually or seeing patients in

clinic on one of our Community Hospital sites where virtual follow-up is not appropriate.

Patients under the care of the Velindre oncology team are also contacting their patients

waiting for chemotherapy to discuss their care plan

Information and Support Specialist

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s Cancer Information and Support Specialist service is running

virtually, able to signpost to current resources and services available. Patients are able to

email or make urgent enquiries by phone. Contact 01685 726875 ext 26875 or email

david.watkins@wales.nhs.uk

Radiotherapy

Treatment is still being provided at Velindre, in line with the current national guidance. The team at Velindre will speak to you over the phone to discuss your treatment and appointment. The helpline number is 02920 196836.

Chemotherapy (oncology) Treatment is being provided in Velindre or on the mobile unit, in line with the current national guidance. The Consultant (or a member of their team) will speak to you over the phone to discuss and agree your treatment options. The helpline number is 02920 316248.

Head and Neck Prince Charles Hospital / Royal Glamorgan Hospital – Clinics are now being provided

in Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda or virtually.

Contact 01443 443443 ext 74876

Princess of Wales Hospital – Clinics continuing as normal with virtual appointments

available.

Contact 01656752752 ext 2107

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Cancer Services (continued) Respiratory

Prince Charles Hospital – Rapid access lung clinics are running as normal. Post op clinics

are provided virtually. Contact 01685 728152/ 728527

Royal Glamorgan Hospital – Clinics are being provided at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda or

virtually including Rapid access, Interstitial Lung Disease and Blood monitoring clinics.

and Blood monitoring clinics. . Contact 01443 443443 ext 74068/ 73579

Princess of Wales Hospital - All clinics being held virtually over the telephone. Patients

are being contacted over the phone or by letter to inform them of the appointment. All

calls are currently being responded to by the Respiratory Hub on 01656 752975.

Gastroenterology

Prince Charles Hospital / Royal Glamorgan Hospital – Clinics are being provided virtually

where possible or at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda (Consultant and nurse) or Ysbyty Cwm Cynon

(consultant only). Contact 01685 728724 (Prince Charles Hospital) or 01443 443443 ext

73051/ 73542 (Royal Glamorgan Hospital)

Princess of Wales Hospital - Services are continuing to run, All Urgent Suspected Cancer

patients are currently being seen. Telephone reviews are currently being carried out

where possible. Contact 01656 752987

Gynaecology

Royal Glamorgan Hospital/ Prince Charles Hospital – The service continues to run,

virtually where possible. Patients requiring assessment are seen in clinic in Ysbyty Cwm

Cynon or Women’s Health Unit in Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Contact 01443 443443 ext

6212

Princess of Wales Hospital – The service continues to run, virtually where possible. There

are clinics being run for those patients who need to be seen, which would need to be

arranged prior by phone. Contact 01656 752752.

Breast

Royal Glamorgan Hospital – Breast services (outpatient clinics/ mammograms/ surgery) Clinics have been relocated from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and patients are now being invited to attend clinics at Breast Test Wales, Cardiff. Patients will now receive Breast Surgery at the Vale Hospital.

Princess of Wales – Breast services (outpatient clinics/ inpatient/ surgery) At the present time, the majority of breast surgery is being undertaken at the Vale Hospital, with some continuing at Princess of Wales Hospital. If you have any urgent queries in relation to Breast services please contact:

Royal Glamorgan Hospital - 01443 443443 ext 73056 or ext 76338

Princess of Wales Hospital - 01656 752018

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Cancer Services (continued)

Urology

Prince Charles Hospital / Royal Glamorgan Hospital - Urology treatment is being offered

according to national guidelines. All cancer patients have a keyworker for support.

Surgery is being offered at the Vale hospital. Patients with any urgent queries are being

advised to contact their keyworker.

Princess of Wales Hospital - All services relating to urgent outpatient, diagnostics and

operating for urology are continuing to run. Contact 01656 752887.

Dermatology

Prince Charles Hospital / Royal Glamorgan Hospital - The outpatients clinics are being

run from Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda, Ysbyty Cwm Cynon or by a telephone consultation.

Patients can contact the Clinical Nurse Specialists with any queries, an appointment can

be made to see a Consultant if required.

Contact 01443 443565 or 01443 443443 ext 74925

PRINCESS OF WALES HOSPITAL – Outpatients clinics are being run from New Surgery,

Pencoed.

Colorectal The colorectal department has not completely shut down at any of our Hospital sites but we have had to make adjustments to our service during the COVID-19 pandemic. For patients who have already been diagnosed with bowel cancer, treatment is continuing both in the forms of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Patients who are being referred to the colorectal department with symptoms are being triaged by a consultant. For patients who have emergency presentations with colorectal cancer such as bowel obstruction or perforation, emergency surgery is still commencing. If you have any queries regarding your care please contact the relevant switchboard below and ask to speak to the colorectal department.

Royal Glamorgan Hospital Main Switchboard - 01443 443443

Prince Charles Hospital Main Switchboard -01685 721721.

Princess of Wales Hospital Main Switchboard - 01656 752752

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Cancer Services (continued)

Rapid Diagnostic Clinic. The RDC is currently assessing patients virtually via telephone in order to undertake telephone and outpatient clinics with patients due to current circumstances. Patients will still need to attend for a CT scan when telephoned with an appointment date at Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Patients will then either be contacted via telephone with their results or will need to attend Outpatient clinic in Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda for their results. If you have any urgent queries relating to Rapid Diagnostic Clinic please call 01443 443443 ext. 74092.

Clinical Haematology Service In order to increase capacity on the major sites and better protect our patients, the Clinical Haematology Services from Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Glamorgan Hospital (Day Units and OPD) have been temporarily relocated to the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre near the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

To contact the Clinical Haematology service, please phone 01443 443443 ext 28392/ 28544 Alternative contact numbers are below – Royal Glamorgan Hospital – 01443 443443 ext 6329 (Mon – Fri 09.00-17.00) Prince Charles Hospital – 01685 724433 (Mon – Fri 09.00-17.00) Out of Hours – 01441 443443 (Haematology consultant on call)

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Cardiology Services

Many appointments have unfortunately been cancelled. However Consultants and Specialist Nurses are reviewing the waiting lists, contacting all urgent patients and carrying out virtual reviews as required. A Cardiology hub has been set up at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda and some face to face clinics are going ahead for urgent patients. The Cardiac Day Unit at Royal Glamorgan Hospital is still running for urgent procedures such as pacemakers and box changes. For any urgent queries please contact the medical secretary team on 01443 443443 Ext 73579 or Ext 74879.

Acute Medicine

The team are endeavouring to carry out telephone consultations where possible instead of in

person appointments. The exception is Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit attendances which are

running as normal at Royal Glamorgan Hospital. For any queries please contact the secretarial

team on 01443 443443 Ext 73605 or Ext 73164.

General Medicine and Care of the Elderly

All appointments are currently cancelled. However Consultants are reviewing patient notes and

carrying out telephone consultations. For patients who require a face to face appointment, there

are plans for clinics to start running at Dewi Saint Hospital (as part of @home services) and this is

also planned to include the Parkinson Service.

For any queries please contact the secretarial team on 01443 443443 Ext 73583 or Ext 73566

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Rheumatology Services Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board has implemented some changes to our Rheumatology services. Where appointments are cancelled, Consultants are carrying out telephone clinics but cannot promise to do so, and patients may receive a letter instead. Some urgent clinics continue to run at Dewi Saint Hospital. This includes Early Arthritis clinics and Monitoring clinics for Immunosuppressant patients (who are not shielding). If you run into trouble with your rheumatic disease the helpline is the appropriate means of contacting us, on 01443443443 Ext 73838. If you have symptoms of suspected COVID-19 you should follow the 111 /NHS website advice.

Gastroenterology

All new and follow up outpatient appointments are unfortunately being cancelled. Patient notes are being reviewed by the consultants and many of the patients will be contacted via telephone to discuss ongoing managements. If following consultation the patients required a face to face consultation, provision has been made for ad hoc Gastro clinics to take place in Ysbyty Cwm Cynon/ Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda Outpatient Department as required. For those Immuno-suppressant patients who would normally receive infusions at Royal Glamorgan Hospital or Prince Charles Hospital, the service is still running at Dewi Saint Hospital. Patients are being contacted and offered appointments as close to their original infusion date as possible. Patients can also contact the IBD Nurses with any queries or concerns on 01443 443099 (for Prince Charles Hospital contact on 01685 728767). The Ascitic drain service for patients with decompensated livery disease has temporarily been relocated to Centre for Reproduction & Gynaecology in Llantrisant. The service continues to be provided by the Hep C CNS team.

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Diabetes Services

Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic the Royal Glamorgan Hospital Diabetes Centre has been temporarily relocated to the opposite end of the hospital where the Antenatal outpatient department was located. This is opposite wards 19 & 20. Unfortunately many appointments will be delayed more than anticipated but will be arranged as soon as it is safe to do so. All secondary care patients under the care of a Diabetes consultant have been contacted by letter from the Diabetes Centre regarding these delays. We have also advised further information is available at https://cwmtafmorgannwg.wales/latest-information-on-novel-

coronavirus-covid-19/information-for-people-with-diabetes/.

If your symptoms deteriorate significantly while you are awaiting a review please contact 01443 443096 and let the team know which consultant/specialist waiting list you are on and the team will arrange a phone call review by a member of the clinical team as soon as possible. Information for people with diabetes is also available on the internet through the following link: https://cwmtafmorgannwg.wales/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/information-for-people-with-diabetes/ .

Nephrology

Many appointments have unfortunately been cancelled as a result of the pandemic. For all

patients with cancelled appointments, Consultants are carrying out virtual reviews or telephone

consultations, and patients will be rebooked when the situation allows.

For any queries please contact the secretary on 01443 443443 ext 73655.

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Lymphoedema Services

The Lymphoedema service is offering virtual appointments either by telephone call, facetime or

skype. Patients with appointments up until the end of June have been sent letters explaining the

current situation and their appointments have been postponed for up to 6 months, however

reassured that they will be contacted. Patients have been provided with written information

about their lymphoedema care for the next few months and given contact number of local

lymphoedema service if they have any concerns.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB is continuing to provide compression garments and advice on self-

management, which includes skin care, exercise, and massage. The health board is continuing to

liaise with Nursing homes, GP practices, hospital wards, wound clinics, and community nurses to

offer support , with education videos links and leaflets being sent to patients with their

Lymphoedema management. The health board is also providing medication advice to reduce the

risk of hospital admissions and further complications where possible.

Any patients, when necessary, are still being seen either in the clinic setting, in their own homes

and sometimes jointly together with district nurses in the community with the correct current

PPE guidelines, following telephone based risk assessment/triage. Sometimes if symptoms are

Urgent and classed as a Priority, we will be able to see patients as long as they do not have any

COVID19 symptoms. As soon as patients arrive in clinic they will be taken straight to a clinical

room. The waiting area will not be in use. Their relative will be allowed to escort them to the

appointment but may be asked to wait in the car if deemed appropriate.

If you have any urgent queries relating to Lymphoedema services, please refer to the contact

number on your patient letter.

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Changes to GP Surgeries All GP surgeries throughout Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board area open, but they are delivering services in a different way in order to protect the safety of staff and patients. In the first instance the GP are ‘triaging patients’ via the telephone, patients may be put through directly to a GP but it is likely that after the initial contact the GP will call the patient back for a chat. As well as this the practices and the Health Board have been working together to introduced other access methods, such as e-consult “Attend Anywhere”, which allows patients to email and also video consultation. Attend Anywhere is a new scheme that has been rolled out throughout Cwm Taf UHB, which will allow patients to have a GP appointment without physically having to attend a GP practice. All GP’s who have signed up will have access to the system and be able to offer video consultations within the next few weeks. The GPs are being responsible for the communication of these changes with their patients directly. They will be primarily contacting patients at the point of making the appointment to advise and will also be promoting this on their own websites and social media. Once all GPs are live CTMUHB will communicate the new system on our website and social media. In addition, digital health wales are running communications to prepare patients for these changes. Below are some links, which show what they are communicating.

1. Twitter feed - @teccymru 2. Website – digitalhealth.wales/teccymru 3. Specific pages for the NHS Wales Video Consulting Service

- https://digitalhealth.wales/tec-cymru/vc-service?section=30 If you click on that link the page shoes two options – information for clinicians and

information for patients).

4. Video link explaining how the service will work for patients - https://digitalhealth.wales/tec-cymru/nhs-wales-video-consulting-service/nhs-wales-video-consulting-service-patients

5. Information link for patients- https://digitalhealth.wales/tec-cymru/nhs-wales-video-consulting-service/patient-information

GP Practices will not carry out testing for COVID-19. Anyone who has any symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend one of these assessment centres, and should continue to follow the self-isolation guidance from Public Health Wales.

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Optometry Services

All routine eye care has been suspended as per Welsh Government guidance. Primary care optometry practices across Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB have been organised on a cluster level to provide urgent eye care services, essential sight test and supply of spectacles only. Practices will provide urgent appointments (by prior arrangement) for at least 75% of normal opening hours. Further detail included in attachment of optometry practices open to triage/treat patients. Optometry Practices Open to Triage/Treat patients: Practices marked with * have independent

Prescribing Optometrists who have NHS WP10 prescription pads, will accept peer to peer referrals from

neighbouring optometry practices, will provide further triage and refer patients to eye casualty if required,

eye casualty will also discharge patients to IP Practices for follow up.

Practice Address Contact Number Specsavers 36 Adare Street, Bridgend, CF31 1EJ 01656 649127 *Parish & Green 1 Hilda House, The Square, Pencoed,

Bridgend, CF35 5NP 01656 861003

Specsavers Sainsbury’s, Derwen, Bridgend, CF32

9ST 01656 331270

Specsavers 59 John Street, Porthcawl, Bridgend, CF36

3AY 01656 782382

W & B Davies

Optometrists 36 Bridge Street, Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, CF36

3DD 01656 740657

Specsavers Opticians Market Square, Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil,

CF47 8BY

01685 371201

*Merthyr Optical Centre 138A High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47

8DN

01685 388384

*Mountain Ash Optical

Centre

24 Oxford Street, Mountain Ash, CF45

3PG

01443 473760

Robert Coleman

Opticians

138 Bute Street, Treorchy, CF42

6BB

01443 772087

*Davies and Jones

Opticians

19 Hannah Street, Porth, CF39

9RB

01443 682284

*Davies & Jones

Optometrists

13 The Strand, Ferndale, CF43

4LY

01443 730214

Specsavers Unit 9B, Talbot Green Retail Park Llantrisant,

CF72 8LW

01443 223882

*Davies & Jones

Optometrists

58 Talbot Road, Talbot Green, CF72

8AF

01443 223124

Specsavers 65 Taff Street, Pontypridd, CF37 4TD 01443 480244

Patients should be directed to call one of the above practices to be telephone triaged, [if

necessary IP practices will provide further telephone triage to the patient]. Following triage [if

required] patients will be referred to Eye Casualty in Royal Glamorgan Hospital, this decision will

be made by the Consultant Ophthalmologist.

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Primary Care Resource Centre – Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda

Many services usually offered at the Primary Care Resource Centre have been suspended to

accommodate the transfer of other key services into the premises. The following services have

been affected by this transfer and are currently suspended:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease clinic

Contraception and Sexual health Clinic

Community Paediatric Clinic

Learning Disability Clinic

Clinical Genetics

New Born Hearing Screening Clinic

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Clinic

Mental Health Depot Clinic

PEG feeding Clinic

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic

The below services have also seen changes due to current circumstances and are detailed as

below:

Oxygen Clinic- All patients in the health board’s home oxygen and community COPD

supported discharge service for the former Cwm Taf have been sent a letter with advice

and contact numbers.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic – All patients currently under this clinic have been given a

contact number and have a named nurse, who will be aware of their condition. The team

are also providing a weekly telephone contact with patients, in order to support them.

Rhondda Integrated Substance Misuse Services - Clinics are continuing to run from

Trealaw Resource Centre. For any urgent queries, please contact 01443 443443 Ext

75440. Clinics will continue at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda as soon as possible.

Minor Surgery Clinic - The Minor Surgery clinic has no appointments booked currently,

however patients with any urgent queries first point of contact would be their own GP.

For any urgent queries relating to the above service changes please contact Ysbyty Cwm

Rhondda - 01443 430022

Domiciliary Care Patients requiring an urgent home visit should be directed to call Keir Hardie Health Park on 01685 351000 or 01685 351008.

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Dental Appointments ALL ROUTINE/NON URGENT DENTAL APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED/COVID-19 In response to the latest Government announcement about restriction of movements, all routine/ non urgent dental appointments have been cancelled. This measure has been put in place to protect patients and the dental teams from the risk of infection. If you have pain, toothache, dental trauma or swelling please use the NHS Direct Wales symptom checker for dental problems and follow the advice provided. If you have another dental problem please search for advice on that topic in NHS Direct Wales Encyclopedia and follow the appropriate advice.

Access to Dental Services during COVID -19 Pandemic: All routine care in general and community dental services has been suspended in line with WG guidance. Only urgent advice/treatment provided: Access to General Dentistry: 1. Patient with regular dentist:

Patients with a regular dentist should be advised to call their own dental practice.

The practice will triage patient over the phone/ Facetime/ Skype or NHS video messaging service and provide self-care advice/script if required.

If face to face appointment is required, practice will arrange urgent appointment in practice. [In line with WG advice, no required, practice will arrange urgent appointment in practice. [In line with WG advice, no Aerosol Generating Procedures treatment will be provided in practice, this will be referred to a Health Board dental cold site if required].

If patient is COVID symptomatic- referred to ‘hot site’ via dental practice using established pathway.

2. Patient with no regular dentist [weekdays]:

Patients should be advised to call a local practice near to where they live to access urgent telephone triage or advised to call the In Hours Access line on 01443 680166/ 01443 680168 (Covers Rhondda Cynon Taff & Merthyr Tydfil)

Bridgend patients should be advised to call 111 and will be managed via this route.

Asymptomatic and symptomatic patients will be managed through established dental pathways.

OOH Service [Fri PM/Sat/Sun and BH]:

Patient should be advised to call OOH EDS on 0300 1235 060 (Covers Rhondda Taff & Merthyr Tydfil)

Bridgend patients should call 111 and be advised on established pathways for urgent care.

Asymptomatic and symptomatic patients will be managed through established pathways. Community Dental Service [CDS]: For patients that usually access dental care via CDS, patient should be advised to call the CDS team on 01685 351000 or 01685 351008. All patients [asymptomatic/symptomatic] will be advised on established pathways for care.

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Audiology-

Hearing aid open access clinics As of immediate effect, and as part of our response to the Coronavirus pandemic, there will be no walk in repairs for hearing aids at Princess of Wales Hospital, Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda or Keir Hardie University Health Park.

If you are a hearing aid user and have problems, please ring the following numbers for advice first prior to attending the hospital. We ask that you please do not just turn up without an appointment as there may be a risk that you will be sent away. Contact details are as follows: Princess of Wales Hospital – 01656 752195 Royal Glamorgan Hospital – 01443 443283 Keir Hardie University Health Park – 01685 728130

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Adult Mental Health Services Mental health services are working collectively and taking steps across the Health Board to

manage the impact of the Covid19 pandemic, and contingency plans have been implemented to

maintain safer services for all.

For advice and support please visit https://cwmtafmorgannwg.wales/services/mental-health/

Local Primary Care Mental Health Support Service: There is reduced activity in face to face contact and an increase in telephone contact. Assessment work continues to take place. Group activities and events have been suspended. At all times our service users are referred to alternative sources of online or telephone support such as that provided by third sector organisations. For urgent queries please contact Main Reception on 01443 443712 (Merthyr/RCT) or 01656 752449 (Bridgend)

Crisis Teams The Crisis Service remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in Prince Charles, Royal Glamorgan and Princess of Wales hospital sites. We are urging people in mental health crisis to telephone our 24/7 crisis line or contact their usual community mental health team. There is increased telephone activity both in assessment and home treatment, and the majority of activity is being offered through telephone support. For urgent queries please contact: RGH 01443 443712 (ext: 74903 9am – 5pm or 74388 out of hours) PCH 01685 721721 Ext 26952 / 26953 POW 01656 752449

Adult Community Mental Health Teams Our clinical teams continue to assess their service user needs and offer alternative service delivery. Telephone services are being offered where possible. Clozapine, Lithium and depot services remain open. Routine review of medication and prescriptions continue.

Substance Misuse Services CDAT remains active and seeing existing and new clients, using telephone contact wherever possible, and video consultation through Attend Anywhere is being explored. DASPA - Telephone: 0300 333 0000

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Adult Mental Health Services (continued)

Psychiatric Liaison (in hospitals) Our Psychiatric Liaison Services are continuing to provide advice and support regarding any patients on our general wards and A&E who have co-occurring mental health needs.

Older People Mental Health Community Team In both our Memory Services and older people’s Community Mental Health Teams we are ensuring that we are still able to offer a good service to our most vulnerable service users. Face-to-face contact with older people has been reduced. Urgent dementia assessments and care home visits continue to be undertaken. New dementia assessments are suspended for now, and ongoing reviews are being carried out over the telephone. The Specialist Dementia Intervention Team (SDIT) in RCT is continuing to take referrals from care homes and on behalf of families caring for people with dementia in their own homes. Advice can be given by telephone; only in extreme cases are SDIT visiting care homes. The OT Memory Assessment Service are continuing to provide assessment and support wherever possible via the telephone.

Perinatal Mental Health Our Perinatal service is providing a telephone service but has largely postponed face-to-face contact. Risk assessments of caseloads continue to be undertaken and reviewed regularly to ensure the services offered continue to meet service user’s needs. Face to Face group activities and events have been postponed and alternative support provided. We are offering pregnancy courses using online resources. All relevant services users are offered this option and have access to telephone advice in relation to any queries that they may have with regards relation to the information and advice provided.

Eating Disorder team Joint working across mental health and specialist eating disorders teams to deliver monitoring, support and treatment in community and home settings. Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB continues to work in partnership with the Service for High-risk Eating Disorders (SHED) in Cardiff. For urgent queries relating to eating disorders please contact 01443 486222 ext 5404

Adult and Older Persons Mental Health Inpatient Services Our assessment and treatment wards remain open to new admissions. Capacity on our adult wards has enabled the designation of Covid and non Covid areas to ensure patients are safely cared for. Professionals in community services and advocacy services are keeping in touch with patients in hospital by phone wherever possible. The Acute Day Unit service has been temporarily paused due to the need to suspend group contact and maintain social distancing. The staff are currently supporting other services in the Acute division, which is under constant review.

Recovery & Rehabilitation Routine contact is being carried out either on the telephone or by video call appointments. The teams continue to receive referrals and will carry out telephone assessments where possible. Community teams will continue to support service users on Clozapine and Depot medication continue to operate as normal. In our inpatient rehabilitation units activities are continuing to keep patients occupied and provide a sense of purpose and positivity.

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Would you like someone to talk to? Most people feel lonely sometimes, for different reasons. Are you, or someone you know in self-isolation, at home or in hospital at the moment and feeling lonely? If loneliness is affecting your life, our volunteers can help and are available to talk to you. Would you like a volunteer to contact you for a chat? If so, please ring 01656 753783 to arrange a call. Or, if you would prefer, please contact CTUHB_Volunteering@wales.nhs.uk We’re waiting to hear from you.

Community Voluntary Councils A range of support and volunteering activities are being co-ordinated within our local communities for those who are most isolated and needing support during the Covid-19 situation. For further information please contact: Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydful Interlink (covering Rhondda Cynon Taf) Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) Cwm Taf Morgannwg Volunteer Service email CTUHB_Volunteering@wales.nhs.uk or ring 01656 753783 to leave a message and one of our Volunteer Service Team will get back to you as soon as possible

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Specialist CAMHS All teams continue to function (Crisis team, CITT, clinic-based teams). Most contacts are via non face to face methods, with Face to face contact provided on an individual case basis according to clinical need / risk. Crisis Teams are linking closely Single Point of Referral Team functions have been enhanced to provide telephone (and email) advice to children and young people and their families.

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Guidance on Enquiries about Volunteering and Offers of Help

As a result of the overwhelming offers of support received by the health board, the following have been set up to help with enquiries of assistance. For Health Professionals or retired staff considering returning on a temporary basis, please register your interest via Staff Bank on 01685 726900 or email: CTT _staffbankrecruitment@wales.nhs.uk For offers of volunteering and such things as donations, accommodation and transport, please contact Sarah Morgan-Jones or Glenda Phillips via CTUHB_volunteering@wales.nhs.uk or alternatively please ring 01656 753783 to leave a message and one of our Volunteer Service Team will get back to you as soon as possible. External organisations – Offers of services or support from external organisations are very welcome and can be emailed to CTM_SupportOffersReq@wales.nhs.uk Amazon Wish List – if you wish to donate items to support our patients in these challenging times when they are unable to receive visits and supplies form their families, donations would be extremely welcome through our CTMUHB Amazon Wish List. This includes items such as nightwear, underwear, toiletries, jigsaws, puzzle books etc Facebook NHS Kindness Wish Lists – this is being run independently of the health board by volunteers, but is a wonderful way of donating items for specific NHS wards and departments across South Wales Just Giving Page – if you wish to donate money to help us purchase items to support our hard working staff, as well as patients, donations are very welcome through our CTMUHB Just Giving Page. Please specify that the donation is for staff support during Covid19 Thank you all for your continued support of the health board and the NHS.