This winter is set to be "one of the hardest we have ever faced" due to the dual challenge of the pandemic and other respiratory viruses, NHS Wales chief executive Andrew Goodall has warned.
The warning comes along with the publication of the NHS Wales Health and Social Care Winter Plan, which will allocate an extra £42m funding for social care, some of which will be used to help ease the pressure on hospital beds, the Welsh Government has said.
The social care investment, which comes on top of £248m already announced for the NHS Covid recovery fund, will be used to improve hospital patient discharges, expand community services and reduce hospital re-admissions among the frail and vulnerable in an effort to ease pressures on bed capacity.
The Welsh Government says this will help ensure emergency care is able to cope and minimise disruption to planned care.
Ahead of the winter pressures, Andrew Goodall said services needed to remain ready to respond to rapidly changing circumstances, as well as minimising time spent in hospital for those receiving care and supporting people to return home to continue their recovery.
Seven key priorities in the Winter Plan include:
protecting people from Covid-19 through the vaccination programme,
keeping people well during higher levels of influenza and seasonal respiratory viruses,
maintaining the resilience of health and social care services,
responding to the mental health impact of the pandemic,
ensuring vulnerable groups have access to the treatment they require,
supporting the health and wellbeing of staff who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic
working with health and social care organisations to manage pressures across the system.
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