‘Progress being made’ after baby services scandal
MATERNITY services run by scandal-hit Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board are making “encouraging signs of progress”, a new report claims.
An independent panel set up by the Welsh Government to oversee progress at the health board’s two maternity units has published the second of its quarterly reports into the units.
It found that during October, November and December, maternity services at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, and Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, made good progress, prompting “cautious optimism” that longerterm improvements will be delivered.
However, the panel said the pace of improvement has not been fast enough – partly due to unforeseen staff absences – and needs to be ramped up. It added that more than two-thirds (68%) of the actions the health board needs to take remain “a work in progress” and will require widespread changes in culture and operational practice to fully deliver.
It was also revealed that since the initial report was published in April by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology and the Royal College of Midwives – which unearthed “systematic failings” in maternity services and prompted the creation of the oversight panel – 20 serious incidents have taken place and been flagged up with Welsh Government.
However, the panel said this was “within normal bounds”.
Mick Giannasi, chairman of the independent panel, said: “In the first quarterly report we talked about solid foundations and improvement being created.
“We also talked about action to make the service safe.
“This time we have seen good progress in the recommendations made by the royal colleges, so in this quarter we’ve seen around a third of those being delivered and the rest a work in progress – and some of those are significant items.”
Mr Giannasi, a former chief constable with Gwent Police, said twiceweekly surveys are now being carried out which document the experiences of women and the families on the maternity wards.
And he added that there is a “quiet evolution” going on when it comes to staffing levels and attitudes.
“There’s a new interim chief executive, a new director of midwifery has just started, along with new midwives, consultants and other staff coming in. There is a different kind of atmosphere and a renewed enthusiasm,” he added.
“And what we have seen is a greater degree of openness and transparency, a willingness to learn and a recognition that things weren’t right in the past and need to be put right.”
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) carried out an unannounced three-day inspection of the midwifery-led Tirion Birth Centre at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in September 2019.
It concluded overall that “care was provided in a safe and effective manner”, while staff “demonstrated a clear passion and drive to provide high standards of care to patients in a homely, relaxed environment”.
The health board is currently awaiting the publication of an unannounced inspection of the consultant-led service provided at Prince Charles Hospital.
Commenting on the 20 serious incidents reported since October 2018, Mr Giannasi added: “We are satisfied these are being investigated properly and are within normal bounds of what is expected [from a maternity unit].”
The report added that handling of complaints about the maternity units remains a matter of concern.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board first came under fire in April 2019 following the publication of the royal colleges’ report.
It was prompted by a consultant midwife who was concerned by an apparent under-reporting of serious incidents, including baby deaths.
Cwm Taf’s maternity services are currently in special measures as a result of the findings.