Royal Glamorgan Hospital's downgrade of children's services delayed after damning report into Cwm Taf maternity care
The planned downgrade to children's services at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant has been delayed.
Services were due to change on June 1st, according to Cwm Taf Morganwwg's website, but that has been put off until the Autumn.
The original plan, as part of a major restructure of services at the health board, would have started in just fifteen days time. From this date, according to a statement on the health board's website, "a new Paediatric Assessment Unit will be established at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital."
The statement continues: "Once the changes have taken place, the very small minority of children who will need to stay in hospital overnight will be transferred to Prince Charles Hospital or the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff."
The postponement comes amid ongoing 'systemic failings' at Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board following a review of its maternity services.
Maternity services at the health board have been placed in special measures but a planned move of consultant-led care away from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital to Prince Charles Hospital has already taken place.
Despite the change, there have been concerns that the new set-up cannot cope with the number of mothers expecting to deliver their babies.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morganwwg Health Board said: "We can confirm that the changes to paediatric services will no longer take place on June 1st.
"At our recent public board meeting we agreed that we would review the timescale for the move with staff.
"We are still in that process and a revised date has not been confirmed. As soon as it has we will communicate this."