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| Doctor's fear for maternity care | Doctor's fear for maternity care |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A senior doctor has spoken of his fears for maternity services at some of Wales' largest hospitals. | A senior doctor has spoken of his fears for maternity services at some of Wales' largest hospitals. |
| The medic claims Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales (UHW) and the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, have a shortage of doctors and midwives. | |
| Maternity services at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital have been in special measures for months after a review. | Maternity services at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital have been in special measures for months after a review. |
| Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said it did face pressures on its service but said most women had a "positive experience". | Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said it did face pressures on its service but said most women had a "positive experience". |
| The doctor, who fears losing his job if he was identified, spoke to BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme. | The doctor, who fears losing his job if he was identified, spoke to BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme. |
| He said the greatest problem was in high-risk pregnancies at large hospitals such as UHW and the Royal Gwent when emergencies occurred in normal births. | |
| He said: "There just aren't enough senior medical staff to actually see all of the patients in the ante-natal clinics. | He said: "There just aren't enough senior medical staff to actually see all of the patients in the ante-natal clinics. |
| 'Pressures' | 'Pressures' |
| "And then the same thing is translated onto the various labour wards in that you don't have enough trained midwives and trained senior doctors actually running the labour wards to provide the continuity of care and at a level that you would want to." | "And then the same thing is translated onto the various labour wards in that you don't have enough trained midwives and trained senior doctors actually running the labour wards to provide the continuity of care and at a level that you would want to." |
| Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust Nurse director Sue Gregory said 6,200 women gave birth with them last year, and this number was rising. | |
| She said: "Whilst we do face pressures on our services, the majority of mothers do have a positive experience. | She said: "Whilst we do face pressures on our services, the majority of mothers do have a positive experience. |
| "We are responding to the increasing birth rate by employing more midwives and support staff. A new Women's Unit with improved maternity facilities will also open later this year. | "We are responding to the increasing birth rate by employing more midwives and support staff. A new Women's Unit with improved maternity facilities will also open later this year. |
| "We are working closely with the Royal College of Midwives and [the union] Unison to ensure any concerns raised by staff are addressed, allowing them to concentrate on providing mothers with the best possible care." | "We are working closely with the Royal College of Midwives and [the union] Unison to ensure any concerns raised by staff are addressed, allowing them to concentrate on providing mothers with the best possible care." |
| Maternity services at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport have been in special measures for 12 months. | Maternity services at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport have been in special measures for 12 months. |
| 'Midwives' | 'Midwives' |
| Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust had to draw up an action plan to try to improve its maternity care, and it is monitored weekly by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. | Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust had to draw up an action plan to try to improve its maternity care, and it is monitored weekly by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. |
| It followed concerns about staffing levels at the hospital, and "inadequacies in management and leadership". | It followed concerns about staffing levels at the hospital, and "inadequacies in management and leadership". |
| In February this year, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Gwent Hospital, said it accepted the review's findings, and added that safety was a "top priority" and it was employing more midwives. | In February this year, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Gwent Hospital, said it accepted the review's findings, and added that safety was a "top priority" and it was employing more midwives. |
| Rosemary Kennedy, the chief nursing officer for Wales, insisted maternity services in Wales are safe, and she said more midwives were being recruited across the country. | |
| "I think any complaint, any concern - wherever it comes from, really does have to be taken seriously," she said. | "I think any complaint, any concern - wherever it comes from, really does have to be taken seriously," she said. |
| "Now, in terms of safety we have Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, which is our independent arms-length body, which will look at all concerns which are raised. | "Now, in terms of safety we have Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, which is our independent arms-length body, which will look at all concerns which are raised. |
| "It will also undertake an annual review of maternity services, and they have assured us that in terms of safety - Wales is a safe place to have your baby." | "It will also undertake an annual review of maternity services, and they have assured us that in terms of safety - Wales is a safe place to have your baby." |
| Week In Week Out is broadcast on BBC1 Wales at 2235 on Tuesday 26 May. |