Maternity services in south Wales placed in special measures

Maternity services at the Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles hospitals in south Wales have been placed into special measures following serious incidents and concerns raised regarding the deaths of a number of babies.

25 serious incidents took place between January 2016 and September 2018, including four neonatal deaths and eight stillbirths.

This led to a separate independent review, which found that concerns and suspicions raised by patients were not taken seriously, but which later revealed a critical problem.

The report said “Many women had felt something was wrong with their baby or tried to convey the level of pain they were experiencing but they were ignored or patronised, and no action was taken, with tragic outcomes including stillbirth and neonatal death of their babies.”

The review, which was led by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology, found that there were eleven areas of critical concern at the two hospitals.

The review went on to say that it was ‘dismayed’ that an internal report which had been written by a consultant midwife highlighting a number of safety concerns last year had not been acted upon, ‘thereby continuing to expose women to unacceptable risks’.

Allison Williams, chief executive of Cwm Taf University Health Board said that she was “deeply sorry for the failings that have been identified in our maternity service.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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