The need for this review is alarming

THE majority of parents in Wales experience high-quality, safe and compassionate care from hospital staff when they are welcoming their son or daughter into the world.

Midwives in particular are viewed by many as a calming, reassuring influence on the maternity wards who aim to make the birth as safe and memorable as possible.

Consultants, as well as surgeons, anaesthetists, senior nurses and other senior medics, are on hand to ensure the delivery goes smoothly and without complications.

Equally, these members of staff also have a duty to report when things don’t go according to plan so the Welsh NHS can learn and adapt its practices if necessary.

Tragedies, such as stillbirths and baby deaths, cannot be avoided in some cases but it is vital that each incident is comprehensively documented to maintain standards of best practice.

That it why it is alarming that Cwm Taf University Health Board, which covers Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr, has had to conduct its own review into how its maternity staff are reporting incidents.

From their initial findings, there appear to be significant shortcomings in how “adverse” incidents – including 20 stillbirths and six baby deaths – were documented over the two-and-a-half year period.

Cwm Taf ’s interim director of nursing, Prof Angela Hopkins, admitted that the health board had been “very challenged” in maintaining optimum staffing levels.

She believed this could be one of the main reasons why incidents were not properly documented, although this may become more clear once the health board’s internal investigation has been completed.

But she has stressed that there is no indication that any staff members were trying to cover up any wrongdoing or make the department’s figures more positive.

What is certain it is imperative that the health board urgently completes this review and contacts any families where concerns have been raised.

And it remains to be seen whether recruiting 15 new midwives, as well as appointing a consultant midwife and more doctors, will adequately address the shortfall in staffing numbers at the two hospitals in question.

An external, independent review into the births should hopefully add some much-needed clarity as to why the reporting of such cases fell below normal standards.