Maternity ward 'overcrowded' and staff 'overstretched' following maternity service merger
A first time mother has spoken out about the "cramped and overcrowded" conditions on the maternity ward at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr.
Alex Davies-Jones gave birth to her son, Sullivan, almost 3 weeks ago.
While in hospital, Alex said the number of patients that staff had to treat was "overwhelming".
She told ITV News she experienced nurses and doctors openly crying about the amount of patients they had to treat in such "cramped" conditions.
It comes following the merger of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board specialist maternity services.
The change which came into force on the on 9 March means any patient likely to need specialist medical care when in labour, or a baby needing specialist neonatal care, will be admitted to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil - after the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant stopped providing consultant-led maternity care
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said it is "doing everything we possibly can to improve our maternity services and deliver quality care to women and their families".
Alex, a Rhondda Cynon Taff Councillor, said the the maternity unit in Merthyr is "just not coping" with the increased demand - and claim intimate examinations and procedures are being carried out in "unsuitable" conditions.
Despite Sullivan needing to stay in the neonatal unit for an extra five nights, Alex was discharged less than 48 hours after having a Caesarean section.
She said she had been told by a nurse on duty told her it was due to a shortage of beds.
Alex said the care she received from the staff on the ward was "exceptional" but experiencing such conditions and being discharged early did "take its toll" on her mental health.
Bethany Frowen also experienced similar conditions when admitted to the maternity ward at Prince Charles Hospital.
Again, despite the best efforts and care she received from the midwives Bethany describes the ward as "chaotic".
Bethany told ITV News there was a notable difference in how she felt upon being discharged after giving birth to her third child.
On her first two children, which she had at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, she said that by the time she left both her and the baby had received all the relevant and necessary checks but felt a distinct "lack of control".
Bethany siad her newborn daughter Efa was discharged without having a hearing test and checks for jaundice which became "dangerously high" and she was readmitted just over 24 hours later.
In response to these claims Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said they are "doing everything we possibly can to improve our maternity services and deliver quality care to women and their families".
Alex Davies-Jones, said her own experience shows fears over the merger of these specialist services have "been confirmed" and something "desperately needs to be done".
If you are a parent or member of staff and would like to get in touch about this story, e-mail ITV Wales' Health Reporter James Crichton-Smith here: james.crichton-smith@itv.com