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| 43 Cwm Taf maternity cases investigated by health board | 43 Cwm Taf maternity cases investigated by health board |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The deaths of babies at birth or shortly after are among 43 maternity cases being investigated by a health board. | |
| Cwm Taf Health Board based in south Wales confirmed it was looking at cases over more than two and a half years. | |
| The health board said a review found cases from the start of 2016 "where there was an adverse outcome that required a full investigation". | The health board said a review found cases from the start of 2016 "where there was an adverse outcome that required a full investigation". |
| It said it was taking "positive actions" to strengthen the workforce. | It said it was taking "positive actions" to strengthen the workforce. |
| The health board covers 300,000 people living in the south Wales valleys, with maternity services at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. | The health board covers 300,000 people living in the south Wales valleys, with maternity services at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| "We have gone back and looked at each of these cases in more detail to find out if all appropriate actions were taken at the time," said the health board in a statement. | "We have gone back and looked at each of these cases in more detail to find out if all appropriate actions were taken at the time," said the health board in a statement. |
| It is set against a background of changes to maternity services in the area. | It is set against a background of changes to maternity services in the area. |
| Royal Glamorgan Hospital will become a midwife-led service and £6m is being spent on an expanded special care baby unit at Prince Charles Hospital, which is becoming the area's specialist neonatal care centre from next March. | Royal Glamorgan Hospital will become a midwife-led service and £6m is being spent on an expanded special care baby unit at Prince Charles Hospital, which is becoming the area's specialist neonatal care centre from next March. |
| The health board said it had already taken a number of actions, including recruitment of senior staff and 15 more midwives. | The health board said it had already taken a number of actions, including recruitment of senior staff and 15 more midwives. |
| "We take our responsibilities for patients very seriously and are determined to do everything necessary to ensure we provide the best possible care for women and their babies," it added. | "We take our responsibilities for patients very seriously and are determined to do everything necessary to ensure we provide the best possible care for women and their babies," it added. |
| It said a small number of case reviews are to be finalised and any further information would be "shared in full" with the families concerned. | It said a small number of case reviews are to be finalised and any further information would be "shared in full" with the families concerned. |
| "We will provide additional support and any redress as appropriate," added the statement. | "We will provide additional support and any redress as appropriate," added the statement. |
| Cwm Taf chief executive Allison Williams told September's health board she was commissioning a review, including "a robust review" of serious untoward incident (SUI) reporting over the last three years. | Cwm Taf chief executive Allison Williams told September's health board she was commissioning a review, including "a robust review" of serious untoward incident (SUI) reporting over the last three years. |
| Analysis from Owain Clarke, BBC Wales health correspondent | Analysis from Owain Clarke, BBC Wales health correspondent |
| These problems were picked up at a time when the health board is embarking on a big revamp of maternity services across the region. | These problems were picked up at a time when the health board is embarking on a big revamp of maternity services across the region. |
| This involves centralising services on one site rather than two, with Prince Charles in Merthyr becoming the centre for dealing with more complex pregnancies and births. | This involves centralising services on one site rather than two, with Prince Charles in Merthyr becoming the centre for dealing with more complex pregnancies and births. |
| These plans were driven by concerns that there were too few staff, spread too thinly, and services weren't as safe as they should be. | These plans were driven by concerns that there were too few staff, spread too thinly, and services weren't as safe as they should be. |
| It also involves a "comprehensive refresh" of incident-reporting processes, with training for all relevant staff. | It also involves a "comprehensive refresh" of incident-reporting processes, with training for all relevant staff. |
| An improvement plan is being drawn up, led by a former director of nursing from outside the health board for the next six months, with a small panel of experts and support from Welsh Government officials. | An improvement plan is being drawn up, led by a former director of nursing from outside the health board for the next six months, with a small panel of experts and support from Welsh Government officials. |
| Ms Williams told the health board in her report that "external scrutiny and expertise" was an important part of the assurance process. | Ms Williams told the health board in her report that "external scrutiny and expertise" was an important part of the assurance process. |
| "I have met with senior officials in Welsh Government to discuss the review, its scope and related processes," she said. | "I have met with senior officials in Welsh Government to discuss the review, its scope and related processes," she said. |
| "Weekly progress update discussions are taking place; and arrangements are being made for a further external review to be undertaken early 2019 to ensure that all appropriate improvements are being delivered." | "Weekly progress update discussions are taking place; and arrangements are being made for a further external review to be undertaken early 2019 to ensure that all appropriate improvements are being delivered." |