The report...

appointed 13 new midwives over the past few months.

Former chief executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, Allison Williams, stepped down from her post in August.

Commenting on the report, Mr Gething said: “There is clearly still a considerable way to go to address the fundamental issues and concerns which have come of light within the health board. I appreciate this has been a very difficult time for all staff concerned. However I am encouraged by the way in which they have accepted the need to make sustainable, organisational wide change which puts quality, safety and patient experience at the heart of all that they do.”

Greg Dix, director of nursing, midwifery and patient care at Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, said: “We are committed to addressing the concerns raised by the Royal Colleges’ review and making the changes required to deliver the highest quality services to women and families.

“In recent months we have been working hard to make a number of improvements, including developing our engagement with women and families alongside a new quality governance framework and putting in place regular review meetings to learn from things when they have gone wrong.

“However, we recognise there is still much work to do. We know how important it is to learn from the past and the clinical review process, which has been outlined today, will identify any further action to ensure the right systems and continual improvements are in place for the future.

“We are grateful for the advice and support we are receiving from the independent panel and will continue to work closely with them to provide assurance to our communities and partners that the report’s recommendations are being fully implemented.”

Rhondda Cynon Taf council leader Andrew Morgan said: “The report identifies a level of progress which is encouraging, but clearly there is a lot more to do to consistently achieve the standard of care and service which we all want to see.

“I welcome the transparency and honesty in the reports, with the recommendations and findings amplifying the real-life experiences patients and the public have experienced and which they continue to voice to myself and other elected representatives.”

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies AM, said he does not want Cwm Taf to follow in the footsteps of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board by “languishing” in special measures for years on end.

At First Minister’s Questions, he said: “I hope Cwm Taf isn’t another Betsi Cadwaladr in the making where Welsh Labour allows another health board to languish for years, failing the people it is meant to serve.”

Plaid Cymru AM Helen Mary Jones said Mr Gething should be “getting stuck in” to help out Cwm Taf.

She said: “That the panel has seen fit to report that maternity services at Cwm Taf are a long way from being declared safe should be a source of shame to the health minister.

“It’s been five months since we in Plaid Cymru were left with no choice but to table a motion of no confidence in the health minister. In the intervening months, one might have thought that he would have rolled his sleeves up to ensure swift action at Cwm Taf.

“And yet the health minister is content to be ‘encouraged’ that the need for change has been accepted. I have to say to him – the time for accepting the need for change has long gone. Now is the time for action. It’s what the families expect, and it’s what they deserve.

“As this report outlines, this particular health board has an enormous job of work to do. With Cwm Taf in special measures, it is quite literally the health minister’s job to get stuck in and help make the improvements that people expect. If he’s unable to do that, someone else should be given the opportunity to.”

■ Following publication of the report, the health board has opened a helpline to ensure queries are dealt with openly and efficiently. It will initially be active until Friday between 9am and 5pm. You can contact the helpline on 08000 328999. Alternatively, you can email any queries to CTM_ MaternityImprovement Programme@nhs.wales.uk. This email address will remain open for the foreseeable future.