11. Will the First Minister make a statement on maternity services for patients in north Wales? OAQ52494

Yes. Betsi Cadwaladr university health board offers women from the north a full range of maternity services from birth at home or in hospital, including both midwifery and obstetric-led care and specialist facilities, and these services have been supported by the Welsh Government's £18 million investment in the sub-regional neonatal intensive care centre, which became operational last month.

I'm very grateful for the fact that that service is available to people in my own constituency. The First Minister will be aware, however, that some people from north Wales avail themselves of maternity services in Chester at the Countess of Chester Hospital. There's been a recent scandal there with a nurse who has been arrested on suspicion of taking the lives of eight babies. Some parents in north Wales who have lost children are obviously very concerned about that news and want to have the deaths of their children investigated. What support is the Welsh Government putting in place for parents from north Wales who have lost children and are very concerned about the nature in which they were lost and whether there is an implication for them as a result of this ongoing investigation?

Well, as the Member will understand, this is an ongoing police investigation. There's not a great deal I can say about it. What I can say is that should any Welsh residents have been involved in what has happened there, we would expect the health board to provide support to the families affected and to seek the appropriate assurances from the NHS trust concerned regarding any Welsh residents currently under their care.

Thank you, First Minister.