THERE is a ‘significant backlog’ after the NHS had to pause services due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, said the situation on the NHS remains ‘precarious’ and although a slight easing of pressure can be seen, normal services cannot yet resume.

At the Welsh Government press conference on February 10, Dr Goodall gave an update on the situation in hospitals across Wales.

There are around 2,200 Covid-19 patients in hospital, which is lower than the second wave peak and there are 84 people with Covid in critical care.

Around 202 people in field hospitals in Wales.

However, he said we are ‘just beginning to understand the long-term impacts’ and is ‘critical’ to set out long term plans to return other services.

He told the country that there is currently a ‘significant backlog’ and the NHS must continue to adapt.

He added new approaches were being introduces which enables clinicians to prioritise people and care.

Mr Goodall said they are also looking at work on urgent cancer, cardiac and emergency care but a backlog has also emerged there.

Mental heal also needs to be something that is looked at.

Before Christmas, the NHS Wales introduced a choices framework, which allowed decisions to be made on a local level, rather than a national one.

Dr Goodall said that should be used when health boards decide if there was sufficient capacity to restart services.

Speaking at the coronavirus briefing, the NHS boss was asked what the situation would need to look like in order for services to resume.

Where there is flexibility, they want bosses to make judgements, but they are still under more pressure than in first wave

He said: "We have to keep an overview of all of the relevant measures that we are tracking.

"Before Christmas we introduced a choices framework across Wales to allow health boards to make their own decisions about how they would balance coronavirus care and treatment alongside emergency pressures and care.”

Dr Goodall went on to say: "Where we have some flexibility in the system I do want local organisations to make those adjustments but we remain still much busier than we were in the first wave.

"We still have 50 per cent more patients in hospital beds for coronavirus related reasons than we did in the first wave.

"I still think there is some time to come for us to feel that there is capacity available but rather than make that a national decision I am looking for local health boards to introduce those services where they have the capacity."

Dr Goodall said the pandemic has had an impact on every aspect of the NHS.

He added: "As the position stabilises, we expect to be able to expand the range of services provided.

"During the pandemic there have been times where the NHS has had to pause some services, we now have a significant backlog.

"We are introducing a series of new approaches which enable clinicians to prioritise those most in need and determine whether people can be better treated in other settings."

Dr Goodall said we are at a ‘critical moment’ in the pandemic, and they needed people’s support to keep following the rules.

He said all actions will help keep Wales safe and protect the NHS.

Anyone who needs help should not put it off. Dial 999 in emergency, or contact GP or 111 if not an emergency.