6. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Maternity Services and Governance Improvements at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:27 pm on 13 October 2020.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 6:27, 13 October 2020

I think that's very important, because I said in my statement that some elements of that had to be paused, but they're really important in terms of giving that reassurance that other Members have looked for as well. And part of this—if we're going to have an honest assessment of it, we can't simply say that, six months in, or 12 months in, we can tick it off the list. Because, actually, the long-term cultural change and the embedding of high-quality and compassionate leadership, both for staff and for the public that they serve, is not something that I think you can set that sort of timeframe on. It's one of the things where you know if it's there and you also know if it isn't there as well, and to know that the change is being sustained as well.

So, we will look to have a range of different methods. That's why it's important for the panel to be able to have conversations with women and families using the services now in a form—they'll be able to do so face to face when conditions allow, when it's safe to do so, but also have interaction with staff and their representatives. I think it's very important that trade union representatives representing staff are able to interact with the panel to set out honestly their view on the service as it is now and the progress that's being made. I do think it's fair to say that the executive director of nursing and midwifery, Greg Dix, has made a difference, and he is seen as someone who's come in after events, and so is seen in a role of being an honest leader without a tie to the past—that's been very helpful, I think. But it's important to make sure that, as we go through this improvement process, we don't try to rush and want to be able to tick off all of the issues that are a concern. We have a much more sustained answer for improvement. Because the idea is that we, at the end of this process, have a service that is high quality, self-sustaining and people have confidence in, rather than we've led to—we've worked to an artificial deadline that might suit a politician like myself, rather than, actually, the staff working in the service and the women and their families who rely upon it.