15,000 signature petition against north Wales maternity downgrade handed in

Health bosses in North Wales have postponed the implementation date for maternity changes at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

It comes after alternative suggestions were made to the health board. They say they will now consider them.

In a statement Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said it made the decision to postpone changes for "a short time" after it received an alternative solution for the interim changes to obstetric, gynaecology, neonatal and breast surgery services by consultant medical staff.

Executives at The Betsi Cadwaladr health board have agreed to meet with campaigners trying to halt plans to end doctor led maternity services at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

The agreement came at the end of a public meeting in St Asaph Cathedral attended by more than 300 people.

The trust say they have no alternative to the plan which would see specialist services based in Bangor and Wrexham for a 12 month period. The Trust say services would then be reinstated at Glan Clwyd.

However their assurances failed to reassure many at the meeting who said they had lost confidence in the trust's decision making.

North Wales NHS bosses are to face public questioning later over plans to temporarily downgrade maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board's Chief Executive, Medical Director and Vice-Chair will all attend the public meeting, held at St Asaph Cathedral.

It follows proposals to take away consultant-led maternity services at the hospital, meaning expectant mothers will have to travel to Wrexham or Bangor for complex pregnancies.

Health bosses say the move is necessary to ensure patient safety due to staffing problems.

Campaigner Marsha Davies has delivered a 15,200 signature petition to the Senedd today.

• More: Health board chief warns hospital can no longer sustain maternity services

She says she's angry at health board plans to "downgrade" maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

She's calling for the proposals to be reconsidered.

A petition has been launched by campaigners opposed to the decision to temporarily downgrade maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

A petition has been launched by campaigners opposed to the decision to temporarily downgrade maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

On Tuesday health bosses said the move was necessary as they couldn't guarantee patient safety and the service was near collapse.

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board says the department had become too reliant on temporary (locum) doctors.

After the announcement was made a Facebook group was set up which has over 12 thousand likes. Local politicians have called for a meeting with the health board to discuss the decision.

Commenting on the interim change to consultant-led obstetric services at Glan Clwyd, Dr Phil Banfield, Chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council said he was very disappointed the health board has not consulted with senior obstetricians at Glan Clwyd to explore all of the options.

Mother's-to-be from across North Wales look set to be forced to travel to Wrexham or Gwynedd if they get into trouble during labour. Health chiefs spent the afternoon in Mold discussing what they call the 'future sustainability' of the service.

Professor Matt Makin, Executive Medical Director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has told ITV News that complex maternity care at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has reached a tipping point to where the hospital can no longer sustain its services.

It comes as a decision was made earlier today to temporarily suspend consultant led maternity care due to fears over patient safety and staffing levels.

Professor Making explained the decision was taken to act now to avoid the hospital becoming 'too dependent' on locum and agency staff that will in turn introduce an 'unacceptable risk' to patients.

Consultant led maternity services will be removed from Ysbyty Glan Clwyd because of fears for patient safety and a lack of suitable staff.

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board approved the plans at a meeting this afternoon.

The meeting was told that Obstetrics and Gynaecology services were too reliant on locum doctors, a lack of suitable and qualified doctors and the service risked collapse.

The services will now be centralised at the two other North Wales district hospitals in Wrexham and Bangor.

Hospital bosses say the move is a temporary one but there was anger after the decision with some staff complaining saying they hadn't heard the proposals before this morning.

The downgrading of services in Denbighshire will mean mothers-to-be in the area will need to travel to either Gwynedd or Wrexham if they experience difficulties during labour.

But, the health board advised nobody will need to travel for more than 45 minutes to receive appropriate care.

ITV Wales understands consultant led care for complex births could be reorganised temporarily in north Wales if plans are approved at a health board meeting later today.

The issue revolves around obstetrics services with a view that services are currently being spread thinly and are reliant on locum doctors. More details are expected to emerge later.

It would mean some pregnant women in north Wales would have to travel further for care.

Last month ITV Wales revealed plans to reorganise services in the area with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board saying some services needed to be provided on fewer sites.