Coronavirus: First look inside British COVID-19 ward as Wales prepares for peak
South Wales is preparing for the COVID-19 peak with cleared schedules, a new field hospital and mental health support for staff.
Thursday 2 April 2020 21:29, UK
Neath Port Talbot Hospital is like a ghost town as it prepares for an influx of coronavirus patients in the coming weeks.
Walking through the doors of the south Wales facility, the main atrium and seating area were completely empty, while the cafe was closed and shops shuttered.
All patients still here are to be discharged as soon possible.
Dr Martin Bevan, the hospital's unit medical director, said the rheumatology day unit had since been re-purposed to handle the expected increase in demand as the number of COVID-19 cases approaches its peak.
It is the closest look we have had at a coronavirus ward in the UK.
The patients on this ward aren't in intensive care or on ventilators, but they have been admitted to this unit either with confirmed or suspected cases of the virus.
"I anticipate we are going to get very busy," Dr Bevan said, adding: "At the moment we only have five beds out of 17 used on the admissions unit, and we have a 40-bed ward upstairs as well."
According to Dr Bevan, the beds are expected to be full "in the next few weeks", but there was still "plenty of capacity" for the time being.
His role as a consultant rheumatologist, however, has already "changed considerably" as preparations for the COVID-19 peak are underway.
He said: "I am now working in acute medicine and doing resident calls, so that's a big change - but everyone is stepping up to the challenge."
Meanwhile, just 10 minutes up the road, rigorous work is underway to transform a local sports academy into a field hospital.
Llandarcy Academy of Sport, a further education college, is undergoing a deep clean, having central heating fitted and is covering its artificial turf to turn it into a facility with around 320 beds for patients on the road to recovery from COVID-19.
It's an enormous space - but won't be officially opened until the virus reaches its absolute height.
A further 10 minutes up the road is Morriston Hospital in Cwmrhydyceirw, which is treating virus-inflicted patients and is now working to minimise the effects of an "emotionally very difficult" situation on its staff.
Nurse director Mark Madams said staff were providing extra emotional support to patients as well as physical care due to them not being allowed visitors during this time.
He said: "When patients unfortunately do pass away, we aren't able to allow visitors in at that point, and that can be very emotionally draining for our staff."
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on , , ,
Mr Madams said the hospital had since set up a "wobble room", for staff to take a time-out from the day, and have psychologists and bereavement councillors on hand to help.
"I think we can't underestimate how distressing it is to see someone pass away and not have their relatives with them or have to break bad news over the telephone instead of in person," he said.