Extra nursing staff and 30 more beds at Maelor Hospital

Additional nursing staff are to be recruited at Wrexham's Maelor Hospital to cope with winter demand

Extra nursing staff are to be recruited for Wrexham's Maelor Hospital to "cope with the extra emergency demand over the winter".

The equivalent of 30 new staff will mainly be full and part-time nurses and health care support workers.

The hospital also confirmed it is to provide 30 more beds this winter.

Last winter Maelor was said to be "log-jammed"' and staff were urged to take "any actions necessary to facilitate discharge" of patients.

A spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: "The health board is in the process of implementing plans to enable it to cope with an expected increase in emergency demand over the winter months.

Five ways to stay healthy this winter

• Sleep more: In winter, we naturally sleep more because of the longer nights

• Drink more milk: You are 80% more likely to get a cold in winter, milk and dairy products are great sources of protein and vitamins A and B12

• Eat more fruit and veg: When it's cold, it can be tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food, but have five portions of fruit and veg a day

• Stay active: Try new activities for the whole family, maybe ice skating, or taking a bracing winter walk on the beach or through the park

• Have a hearty breakfast: Winter is the perfect season for porridge, eating a warm bowlful boosts your intake of starchy foods and fibre

Source: NHS

"We can confirm that this includes the recruitment of additional nursing staff, and we are aiming to secure sufficient staff to allow us to open up to thirty additional beds for the winter period.

He added: "Because of the short timescales to make these appointments, they will include a mix of permanent and temporary staff.

Ambulances delayed

"It may also involve additional hours for staff already employed by the health board."

It was revealed last month 39 ambulances were delayed at Wrexham Maelor Hospital for an hour or more in the last six months.

In response, Betsi Cadwaladr said there had been a "peak in demand" for emergency admissions to the three main hospitals in Wrexham, Bangor and Bodelwyddan.