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- 160 cases of poor maternity care are being reviewed at Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board following an increase in requests.
- Health board “making progress”, but maternity services remain in special measures for the time being.
- Royal Glamorgan Hospital’s midwife-led Tirion maternity unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital remains closed due to Covid-19.
While the main focus of the Health Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth), remains the coronavirus pandemic, yesterday the Senedd was updated on the latest situation regarding the Cwm Taf maternity services scandal.
The main story is that the number of cases undergoing a review has increased to 160, mainly because of families coming forward and requesting a review. As a result of the pandemic, some aspects of the improvement programme – mainly involving management – have had to be postponed. However, the health board was making progress:
“The health board has continued to make progress with its wider quality and governance arrangements as part of the targeted intervention requirements. They have implemented a new clinically led, locality-based operating model. I am pleased to see that later this week they will be launching their new values and behaviours framework. That follows extensive engagement with staff, patients and stakeholders.”
– Health Minister, Vaughan Gething
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Audit Wales will be undertaking follow-up work over the coming months, though for the time being maternity services will remain in special measures.
Shadow Health Minister, Andrew RT Davies MS (Con, South Wales Central) asked about the support offered to families and the impact of the pandemic on services.
The Minister confirmed the midwife-led Tirion unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital – which was recently hit by a large number of in-hospital infections – remains closed and not expected to reopen “until it’s safe to do so”.
Answering a later question from Mick Antoniw MS (Lab, Pontypridd), the Minister said every prospective mother – who would otherwise have gone to the Tirion centre – should have access to a community midwife to explain their options.
Leanne Wood MS (Plaid, Rhondda) asked a question of wider interest regarding birthing partners being allowed to accompany women – which in some situations has led to them being banned. Would the rules be reviewed?
The Minister confirmed there was no blanket ban on birthing partners at various stages of pregnancy and the guidance has been republished. He accepted there were challenges relating to social distancing and alike which will largely depend on the arrangements at a specific hospital or centre.
