Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:48 pm on 5 October 2021.
I appreciate how difficult it is for those affected to have to wait for the results of the inquiry, but, unfortunately, the pace of the process has been impacted due to increased operational commitments of the clinical reviewers, as well as the health board's team, due to the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery. I understand that the neonatal reviews are more complex, and it is essential that they are undertaken thoroughly. However, I do want to reassure families that the ongoing deep-dive review into neonatal services at Prince Charles Hospital has not taken the panel's focus away from the priority of completing these individual reviews. The panel has advised me that the neonatal deep-dive review is nearing completion and will build on the immediate and short-term improvement actions that they have already identified are needed. It was important not to wait for the final report before taking the opportunity to make some immediate improvements. The panel will continue to support the health board in ensuring that these necessary changes are fully acted upon and that they are embedded in practice. My officials will also monitor this closely.