More needs to be done at Cwm Taf University Health Board, say Welsh Conservatives

Following the publication of the Independent Maternity Services Oversite Panel’s April 2022 Progress Report, Welsh Conservatives say that more needs to be done.

The April 2022 Progress Report found that, while there have been positive developments in all of the 19 areas identified by the neonatal deep-dive review requiring immediate action, only five of the 19 areas of immediate improvement can be considered as fully completed and embedded in practice at this time.

The review also found that sources have highlighted continuing issues around delays in response to complaints and concerns, the quality of responses, inequality of responses across sites and insufficient demonstration of systematic learning from findings.

Commenting on the report, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Minister for Health, Russell George MS said:

“While I am pleased to see that some incremental progress has been made at the health board, there is still a long way to go.

“The health of the mother and the baby needs to be at the centre of neonatal care. Unfortunately, this has not been the case and many families have been deeply affected knowing that more could have been done. 

“It is vital that lessons are learned from the tragic events at the health board and that sustainable and long-lasting changes are made.”