Healthcare in Mid and West Wales

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 19 June 2018.

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Photo of Mr Simon Thomas Mr Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru 2:10, 19 June 2018

I don't know, First Minister, if you've had a chance to see the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales's report on the distressing case of Ellie and Chris James of Haverfordwest, whose son died in Glangwili hospital. There were a host of failings described in that ombudsman's report, compounded by the decision to describe their son's death as 'stillborn', despite the fact that he had signs of life after being born, and that in itself was as a result of several failings, including, for example, failing to monitor the heartbeat. This happened in Glangwili, with a young mother being taken from Withybush to Glangwili. A failure to escalate—something we were told wouldn't be happening when the services were taken from Withybush to Glangwili, of course. I hope you'll join with me in extending deepest sympathies to the family and the circumstances that they have suffered. But, in particular, I'd be interested to know what specific steps you're taking in line with the ombudsman's conclusions that the health board should implement the recommendations of this report now, and whether you're taking any further direct action to ensure that, there, we have the highest standards of neonatal care in our health board area.