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| Cwm Taf maternity services: 'Long way to go' until safe | Cwm Taf maternity services: 'Long way to go' until safe |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| There is a "very long way to go" before maternity services at Cwm Taf health board can be declared safe, an independent review panel has said. | There is a "very long way to go" before maternity services at Cwm Taf health board can be declared safe, an independent review panel has said. |
| The panel was appointed after a damning review earlier this year prompted by the death of a number of babies. | The panel was appointed after a damning review earlier this year prompted by the death of a number of babies. |
| It also revealed it would review more than 100 extra cases between 2016 and 2018 where it believed lessons could be learnt, although not all were serious. | It also revealed it would review more than 100 extra cases between 2016 and 2018 where it believed lessons could be learnt, although not all were serious. |
| However, it said the health board was beginning to make improvements. | However, it said the health board was beginning to make improvements. |
| Health Minister Vaughan Gething said there was "clearly still a considerable way to go" to address the problems. | |
| Chrystie Jenkins, 33, who lost three babies at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, said: "It doesn't make a difference whether they change things in the trust and they've got the perfect staff that do the perfect job. | |
| "It's never going to take away or heal any of the pain any of us are going through. It's just something that can't be reversed." | |
| In April, the review led by the Royal College of Gynaecologists unearthed a catalogue of serious failings and highlighted many distressing examples of where mothers and babies had likely been harmed as a result of poor care. | |
| It uncovered failings at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. | It uncovered failings at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. |
| Overall maternity services were described as "dysfunctional" and way below acceptable standards. | Overall maternity services were described as "dysfunctional" and way below acceptable standards. |
| Along with placing the area's maternity services into special measures, Mr Gething appointed the independent panel, chaired by the former chief constable of Gwent Police, Mick Gianassi, to oversee changes. | |
| The panel has also said: | The panel has also said: |
| The health board originally looked at 43 potentially serious incidents between 2016 and 2018 as part of its own internal review after concerns about standards of care first emerged. | The health board originally looked at 43 potentially serious incidents between 2016 and 2018 as part of its own internal review after concerns about standards of care first emerged. |
| After taking over responsibility of reviewing cases, the independent panel has said about 150 cases during this period will be looked at to establish what lessons can be learnt, although it stressed these cases were not all serious incidents. | After taking over responsibility of reviewing cases, the independent panel has said about 150 cases during this period will be looked at to establish what lessons can be learnt, although it stressed these cases were not all serious incidents. |
| All women and families will be given opportunity to contribute. | All women and families will be given opportunity to contribute. |
| The panel is yet to decide how many more cases on top of these it might need to look at as part of a review - stretching as far back as 2010. | The panel is yet to decide how many more cases on top of these it might need to look at as part of a review - stretching as far back as 2010. |
| In conclusion the panel said: "Whilst there are encouraging signs of progress and the foundations for improvement are now largely in place, it is too early to provide the assurance which the minister and the women and families of the former Cwm Taf need in order to be confident that all necessary improvements have been achieved to ensure safe, effective, patient-centred, responsive, well managed and well-led services." | In conclusion the panel said: "Whilst there are encouraging signs of progress and the foundations for improvement are now largely in place, it is too early to provide the assurance which the minister and the women and families of the former Cwm Taf need in order to be confident that all necessary improvements have been achieved to ensure safe, effective, patient-centred, responsive, well managed and well-led services." |
| Mr Gething acknowledged the problems still facing the health board, but said it was reassuring the panel's engagement work with women, families and staff continued "to move at pace". | |
| He added: "I am encouraged by the way in which they have accepted the need to make sustainable, organisational wide change which puts quality, safety and patient experience at the heart of all that they do." |