Routine planned cardiac surgery at Morriston Hospital has been temporarily suspended following a localised Covid-19 outbreak.

The hospital are prioritising staff to continue to care for emergency and urgent cardiac and cardiology patients, working within stringent infection control arrangements.

However, this means the hospital has temporarily suspended routine cardiac cases. Swansea Bay University Health Board has apologised for the inconvenience this will cause patients, and their treatment will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Affected patients will be contacted directly.

Ten patients and five staff have tested positive for the virus as part of the outbreak at Morriston over the last few days, with most of the cases within cardiac services.

The hospital has acted swiftly to initiate a robust infection control response, together with colleagues from Public Health Wales. This has included contact tracing, the wider testing of staff, and stringent mitigating actions aimed at preventing further infections, including closing four wards.

Staff who have tested positive and their contacts are isolating at home, and patients who have tested positive are being carefully managed, with stringent infection control measures in place.

At Singleton Hospital, nine members of maternity staff tested positive for Covid-19 and are isolating. There have been no confirmed or suspected cases reported in the last 24 hours. No patients have tested positive, and wards and beds are all open as normal.

Swansea Bay UHB’s Executive Medical Director, Professor Richard Evans, said:

“The safety of our patients and staff is paramount and we are doing all we can to contain the spread of the virus while minimising the impact on our services.

“However, as a precaution, elective cardiac procedures at Morriston Hospital are being rescheduled. We will continue to closely monitor and manage the situation.”

Given the level of infection in the community, the hospital wishes to remind everyone of simple steps to reduce the spread of Coronavirus:

Always observe physical distancing (two metres).
Wear a mask or face covering when you are in indoor public areas like shops.
Wash your hands regularly. Hand sanitiser is great when you are out and about.
Enhanced local restrictions in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot mean you cannot visit or mix with other households indoors (with the exception of adults who live alone).
Stay home and arrange to get a test if you develop any of the following symptoms: a high temperature, a new continuous cough and a loss or change of taste or smell. For details of how to get a test go to https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/coronavirus-covid-19/information/test-trace-protect/.