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Hospital shut to 'risky' pregnant Hospital's birthing unit reopens
(1 day later)
Women with high-risk pregnancies are being told they cannot be admitted to a south Wales hospital because its special care baby unit is full. A hospital forced to close its doors to women with high-risk pregnancies after its special care baby unit became full is able to admit them once again.
Expectant mothers have been told by the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport they must go to other local hospitals. Expectant mothers had been told by the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport they must go to other local hospitals.
The Royal Gwent says it does not expect an improvement for days. A spokesman said on Monday the baby unit now had one cot available, but the situation was being reviewed regularly.
Health officials blamed the problem on an increase in multiple and premature births, and very premature babies needing to stay longer in the unit. He added the unit had recently experienced a run of multiple births which had taken all the spaces.
The unit closed late on Friday, and the situation does not affect women with low-risk pregnancies, who can continue to have their babies at the Royal Gwent. The unit had closed late on Friday.
"Due to an increase in multiple and premature births our special care baby unit is currently full," said a spokesman for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust. The situation had not affected women with low-risk pregnancies, who were able to have their babies at the Royal Gwent over the weekend.
"Very premature babies are requiring much longer stays in special care which has contributed to this problem. The spokesman for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust said very premature babies were requiring much longer stays in special care which has contributed to this problem.
"We have therefore diverted women with high-risk pregnancies to other local hospitals with the support of a regional control centre. Women were diverted to other local hospitals, mainly Royal Glamorgan near Llantrisant, the Princess of Wales in Bridgend, and Southmead in Bristol.
"We are reviewing the situation every four hours but do not expect the situation to ease until the early part of next week. "We would like to thank neighbouring units for their excellent support over this period," he added.
"We would like to thank neighbouring units for their excellent support over this period."
The hospital, which has more than 3,400 staff and about 770 beds, serves a population of more than 550,000The hospital, which has more than 3,400 staff and about 770 beds, serves a population of more than 550,000