BRONGLAIS Hospital will introduce a new ‘escalation area’ that health chiefs have insisted will help improve patient flow and provide a dedicated patient area.

The new area will be provided after non-clinical staff were moved to a different area, meaning the new six-bed unit will be provided adjacent to a current ward.

It is hoped that the new unit will be open by the end of December this year with a report that went before the September meeting of the Hywel Dda Health Board saying that it would provide a range of benefits.

The report said: “Bronglais has never had the benefit of a dedicated escalation area to meet spikes in demand.

“Historically the response to surge has been met by placing bedded patients in the A&E Minors area which is extremely sub optimal as it hampers emergency flow.

“An area has been identified to create such a facility at Bronglais, achieved through the successful relocation of 32 members of non clinical staff to alternative accommodation.

“This will be a six-bedded side room area adjacent to an existing ward. This, subject to approval, will be commissioned by Bronglais by the end of December 2017 and will have several positive impacts on the site.”

The board has said the new unit would help to provide a dedicated area to manage surges in demand, as well as help protect planned surgery admissions and also provide an area which could avoid problems caused by possible infections, including flu.

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