4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Cwm Taf Maternity Services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:49 pm on 30 April 2019.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:49, 30 April 2019

Of course I do take seriously what happened and why, and finding out what happened and why, which is why I've set out independent steps to do so. That includes your point about the time frame to look back as well, because that's the recommended period within the report to look back, but it's very clear to me, and it'll be clear to the independent panel, that if they believe that there should be a different look back or a further look back then they will come back and tell me that. It would be an extraordinary failing of me if I decided not to take up that advice if that were to be offered, but that has to be a view that comes from that independent group. And we've had recommendations and suggestions from both royal colleges about independent people to undertake that review, for the clinical expertise. I hope to be able to announce that within a period of a few weeks, about who those people will be. And I think that should also help to give some confidence to families, because, in feedback from the families' meeting this morning with officials, part of the feedback was that some of them were concerned that it would be covered over and that the report wouldn't be as honest as it had been in reflecting accurately what they said. And they have said they have some more confidence that something is going to happen because the report accurately reflects the concerns that they've had. I think it's really important to keep those families involved and engaged in the work that we're doing and, crucially, ongoing work then, and the work that the health board is doing making sure they're listening to people's recent experiences of pregnancy to try and understand what's worked well and, equally, what hasn't worked well too. But if the independent review, the independent panel suggest we need to take a different look, then I'll certainly report that back to Members, with my own decision on that.