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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 a health board can be declared safe, an independent review panel has said. | There is a "very long way to go" before maternity services at a health board can be declared safe, an independent review panel has said. |
| The panel was appointed after a damning review into Cwm Taf, prompted by the death of a number of babies. | The panel was appointed after a damning review into Cwm Taf, prompted by the death of a number of babies. |
| It 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 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. |
| The review - which branded maternity services "dysfunctional" - was prompted by 25 serious incidents, including eight stillbirths and five neonatal deaths, between January 2016 and September 2018. | The review - which branded maternity services "dysfunctional" - was prompted by 25 serious incidents, including eight stillbirths and five neonatal deaths, between January 2016 and September 2018. |
| 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. |
| Health Minister Vaughan Gething said there was "clearly still a considerable way to go" to address the problems. | 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. | 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 never going to take away or heal any of the pain any of us are going through." |
| When she was about 25-27 weeks pregnant with her first baby in 2011, she was in "hideous pain" but said "nobody was listening to me". | When she was about 25-27 weeks pregnant with her first baby in 2011, she was in "hideous pain" but said "nobody was listening to me". |
| After two weeks of phoning daily, she went into hospital to be examined and was told there was nothing to worry about. | After two weeks of phoning daily, she went into hospital to be examined and was told there was nothing to worry about. |
| However, when she went back several hours later because she was losing blood, she was told there was nothing they could do to save her baby boy. | However, when she went back several hours later because she was losing blood, she was told there was nothing they could do to save her baby boy. |
| On Monday she went to a meeting held by the panel in advance of the update report being published, along with other families. | On Monday she went to a meeting held by the panel in advance of the update report being published, along with other families. |
| "There was a lot of anger, mainly around obviously the care and the way they were treated by the staff," she said. | "There was a lot of anger, mainly around obviously the care and the way they were treated by the staff," she said. |
| "But I think with the stories that came out from everyone, I think it was just pure shock in the room more than anger. Some of the stories being spoken about hadn't even been identified or investigated." | "But I think with the stories that came out from everyone, I think it was just pure shock in the room more than anger. Some of the stories being spoken about hadn't even been identified or investigated." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 Giannasi, to oversee changes. | 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 Giannasi, to oversee changes. |
| The panel has also said: | The panel has also said: |
| The panel found eight out of 11 urgent safety recommendations made by the Royal College of Gynaecologists had been addressed, but three were still being worked on: | The panel found eight out of 11 urgent safety recommendations made by the Royal College of Gynaecologists had been addressed, but three were still being worked on: |
| 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, the independent panel said about 150 cases during this period would be looked at to establish what lessons can be learnt, although it stressed these cases were not all serious incidents. | After taking over responsibility, the independent panel said about 150 cases during this period would 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 there were "encouraging signs of progress" but it was "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 there were "encouraging signs of progress" but it was "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 a frequently asked questions document, the panel said it would not estimate the timescale for the review because of the need to be thorough, but understood the anxiety for families and expectant mothers and advised any concerned pregnant women to speak to their community midwife. | In a frequently asked questions document, the panel said it would not estimate the timescale for the review because of the need to be thorough, but understood the anxiety for families and expectant mothers and advised any concerned pregnant women to speak to their community midwife. |
| It added: "We hope that the health board will be able to provide you with the right support. However, if your concerns remain, the minister has ensured that alternative arrangements can be made should you feel that you do not wish to use the services in Cwm Taf Morgannwg." | It added: "We hope that the health board will be able to provide you with the right support. However, if your concerns remain, the minister has ensured that alternative arrangements can be made should you feel that you do not wish to use the services in Cwm Taf Morgannwg." |
| 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". | 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". |
| "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," 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," he added. |
| If would like to get in touch about this story, please email: news.focus.team@bbc.co.uk | |
| If you have been affected by stillbirth, the following organisations might be able to help: | If you have been affected by stillbirth, the following organisations might be able to help: |
| Tommy's | Tommy's |
| Sands - Stillbirth and neonatal death charity | Sands - Stillbirth and neonatal death charity |
| Saying Goodbye - support for miscarriage and baby and infant loss | Saying Goodbye - support for miscarriage and baby and infant loss |