Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:53 pm on 9 October 2018.
Yes. I particularly welcome your point about not trying to overly sensationalise what has happened, and, equally, that's at the same time as not trying to downplay the seriousness of the concern that exists as well. It is entirely possible to recognise the serious situation, with 44 cases being reviewed—it was 43, but we've identified literally very recently a further case that should be reviewed as part of this. It's very easy to launch into an attack upon the service when you do have significant concerns to review, but I think it's important that we do resist leaping to judgment in this case, but that must go alongside having the proper, independent reassurance that you refer to.
I'm also pleased that you have had direct conversations with the health board, because I think it is important that they are open with all stakeholders, and that of course includes Assembly Members, as well as the public, as well as the families who are directly affected.
The point about the independent review is that the health board were doing the right thing in asking the royal colleges to come in and review what had happened, but there is always a challenge in the impression of independence and it's really important if the public are to have confidence in it. That's why I took the decision to make sure that the Welsh Government commissioned that, so that there's no impression the health board are being allowed to mark their own work. I think that would have been the wrong thing to have done. I do not think that would have helped either the health board, the staff or the women who rely upon the service.
I think your second point is really important too, about making sure there's a proper, open culture to identify and address challenges at an early point, so that people aren't fearful of talking about challenges or concerns they have with the service, and to make sure that you don't somehow have an expectation of suppressing or covering over potential bad news, because that ultimately makes the situation worse, because people lose faith and confidence in a process that the public really should trust, but also because those opportunities to learn are then lost. That will be important to understand within the review, and whether, from a cultural and practical point of view of the way that the service is delivered, we have the right culture and practice in place, and, if not, then to openly want to address that. As I said in my statement, maternity services and midwifery services in Wales are recognised across the United Kingdom as having made significant improvements. So, I want to see that improvement continue, but this review is equally important in that sense to make sure that we maintain public confidence in our system and in our ability to properly and critically look at where something might have gone wrong.