PATIENTS in Ceredigion have been urged to use A&E and GP out-of-hours services only if absolutely necessary after Hywel Dda Health Board admitted emergency departments have come under severe pressure.

The health board has said it is important that patients use services including community pharmacies and have also asked people to self care at home if they can to help ensure that emergency cases can receive treatment either at A&E departments or through the GP out-of-hours service.

The appeal comes after the health board said hospitals across the board area were coming under increasing pressure from higher demand.

Dr Roger Diggle, the deputy medical director, said: “Our hospitals are currently seeing high volumes of very unwell patients and we are taking all action possible to ensure that they are provided with the care they need.

“To manage the increased demand on services that we experience every winter we have a plan in place to ensure that services continue to run as smoothly as possible while ensuring that patients’ needs continue to be met 24-hours-a-day.”

As well as pressure on Hywel Dda’s emergency departments, the health board has said there has also been an increase in demand for GP home visits and appointments. The health board is urging anybody who can attend at a surgery to do so.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online now