A NEW process has been rolled out in Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s Emergency Department in the hope that patients who need emergency care will be seen quicker.

Patients who attend the Emergency Department will be asked various questions by a medical professional to determine they are seen by the right healthcare professionals in the right place.

It will determine whether they need to be seen by an emergency doctor in the department, or if they need to be referred directly to a specialist clinic in the hospital, a minor injuries unit, Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC), pharmacist, or a GP practice.

Rob Fenwick, Emergency Consultant Nurse, who is leading on the new approach within the department, said: “We are urging those who are seriously hurt or have a life-threatening issue to please come to the Emergency Department.

“By introducing this new approach, we’re hoping to ensure those who do need emergency care will be seen quicker, and those who are unwell but don’t need to be seen by an emergency doctor in our department, will be directed to another more appropriate service.

“We understand people may come to the Emergency Department because they feel they have nowhere else to go, but we will help ensure they are seen by the right people in the right place so they may be seen quicker and more effectively than waiting in the Emergency Department.”

The department held a short trial of this approach at the end of 2022 and early 2023 and found at the time that 60 per cent of patients attending did not need to be seen by an emergency doctor.

In January, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board declared "critical incidents" amid "unprecedented" demand on its services. 

There have been numerous horror stories of long waiting times at the Maelor's Emergency Department in recent years.

John Harris, clinical director of emergency care at Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s Emergency Department, said: “This is not to say those people who attended were not unwell and didn’t need to be seen by a healthcare professional, just not by an emergency doctor in our department. Therefore, we referred them to the most appropriate service which worked very well.

“We’re hoping this will also help people in our community to think twice and choose the right place the first time for where they need to be seen, rather than attend the Emergency Department.”

Wrexham Maelor Hospital has continually implemented new processes to improve its waiting times over recent months. The Emergency Department has been expanded to create more consulting and treatment rooms for patients, and it's increasing the department’s workforce by approximately 40 whole time equivalent staff and are continuing to recruit.

Emergency Departments in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd also have a similar streaming procedure to signpost patients to the most appropriate service for their medical needs.