'Still a long way to go' to improve maternity services at Cwm Taf, report finds

There is "still a long way to go" for a health board to provide safe and high quality maternity services, a report has found.

The report was published by an independent oversight panel into the issues affecting maternity services at both Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles hospital.

It found that whilst the health board has made "good progress" during the winter months, there is still more work to be done.

The Royal College has previously made recommendations to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board stating how maternity services could be improved.

The review also found that the health board was now 'cautiously optimistic' that longer-term improvement could be made to the maternity services in due course.

Maternity services at the health board were placed into special measures last year, after an external review identified "serious failings".

Plaid Cymru Shadow Health Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth AM has accused Labour Health Minister Vaughan Gething of still siding 'with those responsible for management failings' following the publishing of the report.

He said, "Almost one year on from the serious and horrific failings in Cwm Taf that resulted in the death of babies this update on progress highlights significant work still to be done."

In response, health minister Vaughan Gething said, "It is really important for me to have that honesty and independence so people can take real assurance from that. The last thing I want is to give the service a clean bill of health as quickly as possible and move on because that won't provide out staff the level of assurance they quite rightly expect and are entitled to."

He confirmed the next step will be a "clinical audit" of around 140 cases which will look at hospital notes to see what sort of care was provided.

"There will also be the opportunity for the families to tell their stories. There will be more learning to come from that.