4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on maternity services and targeted intervention at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:09 pm on 21 January 2020.

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Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour 5:09, 21 January 2020

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and can I thank you, Minister, for your statement? Like others, I'd want to place again on record my sincere sympathy for those families affected by the failings of Cwm Taf maternity unit. Some of those families I continue to have contact with, and I see, from that contact and that continuing dialogue with them, first-hand the impact that that's had on their lives, and that's something that we should never ever lose sight of. But can I also thank the oversight panel for their briefings and the improved communication that I think we're getting now with the health board, which I think is to be welcomed?

Now, I'm not going to go through all the issues raised in the report—I know the Deputy Presiding Officer wouldn't let me anyway—so, three brief points from me. Firstly, I think it's important to put on record that I'm still reflecting on the fact that, at so many levels, the situation at Cwm Taf maternity unit came as a shock to me, and I'll say again that my trust in the health board was badly damaged, and it's going to take some time and some tangible evidence of long-term improvement for that trust to be restored.

Secondly, I think it's fair to acknowledge some relief that the independent and expert oversight panel has identified progress in the period under review. Like Angela Burns, I was pleased to note that the panel seemed to be reassured that the reporting of serious incidents is becoming compliant, because this is important to have a clear understanding of patient experiences. We've seen real signs of improvement from the two-weekly feedback from women and the families themselves on the unit, which is much different to what had been reported previously, and that, as you've just alluded to in response to Rhun ap Iorwerth, staffing levels do now comply with Birthrate Plus amongst midwives, so there is more confidence now around safety. So, all of that progress is clearly to be welcomed.

But, finally, I note that there remains much to be done. This is still a work in progress, and I don't think for one minute that we can take our foot off the pedal, as has happened in the past. You'll know, Minister, that we have had reports in the past when actions have been implemented, the foot has been taken off the pedal and we've seen things slip, and that's potentially how we've arrived at the situation that we found ourselves in 18 months ago. So, it's clearly going to take whatever time it takes in order to review past cases and for families to receive answers, because families need those answers in order to get closure and to assure themselves that such failures are not going to be repeated in the future. As that review process involves extremely sensitive work, I was very pleased to hear you say that families will very much be at the centre of that work.

So, at this point, I'm again seeking your reassurance that the independent panel are receiving all the support that they require in order to complete their work in a timely, but not rushed, manner, and that families affected will also continue to receive whatever support they need while this is ongoing, because, despite the fact that this is going to take some time to address and turn all these issues around, I think an opportunity is presented, with all the support in place, and given the huge capital infrastructure investment, particularly at Prince Charles Hospital, that this could and should be an exemplar unit. I don't think that that is anything less than the women and families of the Cwm Taf health board area deserve.