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26 Cwm Taf baby deaths in health board maternity inquiry | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Twenty stillbirths and six cases of babies dying shortly after birth are being investigated by a health board. | |
Cwm Taf Health Board in south Wales confirmed it was looking at 43 cases with "adverse outcomes" over more than two years from the start of 2016. | |
The health board said it had been "very challenged" to keep staff numbers at the right levels. | |
But it said it was taking "positive actions" to strengthen the workforce, including recruiting 15 new midwives. | |
Prof Angela Hopkins, interim director of nursing for Cwm Taf, has said: "We've undertaken a review to look at cases when the outcomes for pregnancies was a very sad stillbirth or complication of the pregnancy such as haemorrhage following birth." | |
She added: "It's absolutely key we have appropriate staffing levels to ensure our services are safe. We have been very challenged to maintain staffing levels at the optimum level." | |
Some midwives have been moved to maternity wards in response. | |
The inquiry is covering a period until September 2018 which saw 10,000 births across the region. | |
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, a consultant midwife 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. |
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. |
"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. | |
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." |