RCN's Tina Donnelly fears emergency care in Wales could reach 'breaking point'
The top representatives for doctors and nurses in Wales say the accident and emergency system is facing meltdown, with fewer resources for treating patients in the community.
The British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing claim that bed capacity in A&E departments is under pressure and have concerns that the situation could worsen over the winter as more people are admitted.
It comes as latest figures show Welsh health boards are struggling to meet their savings targets for this financial year.
Tina Donnelly, director for the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, told BBC Radio Wales acute care services would be brought to "breaking point" this winter if something was not done to address the unprecedented demand for services.
Ms Donelly says more patients are turning up at hospitals because community services are under resourced.
A Welsh government spokesman said: "NHS organisations must have appropriate staffing levels in place to meet fluctuating demand.
"We have launched a campaign and the Choose Well app to better educate people about the healthcare services available to them when they become ill and reduce inappropriate pressure on A&E and primary care services."
07 Sep 2012
- From the section Wales