THERE are concerns for the future of obstetric services at Glan Clwyd Hospital following the launch of a new maternity strategy from the Welsh Government.
Welsh Health Minister Lesley Griffiths announced the draft document “A Strategic Vision for Maternity Services in Wales” last week, which indicated that changes would need to be made to improve the quality and sustainability of maternity care in Wales.
The document calls on health boards to work with their local communities in making suitable alterations to services, but both the Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones, and Darren Millar, AM for Clwyd West have spoken out with concerns over the future of maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Mr Millar, the Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services, described the announcement as a smokescreen to distract from the removal of consultancy-led midwifery services at Glan Clwyd.
“The Minister’s pledge falls well short of promising to retain consultant-led maternity services in North Wales’ hospitals,” he said.
“This will come as a disappointment to expectant mothers and families who depend on the services of their local maternity unit.
“I fear that this is just a smokescreen for wholesale reorganisation of services which will result in a reduction in the number of hospitals providing consultant-led maternity services. This will put lives at risk by forcing pregnant women to travel further to give birth.”
Speculation over the future of midwifery services at Glan Clwyd has been building over the past twelve months as the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which administers the hospital, carries out a review into maternity services across North Wales.
The plan indicated that local health boards would be responsible for re-organising services, with Ms Griffiths stating that changes must be made to avoid a “drift into lack of safety and sustainability”.
Ann Jones reiterated her calls to protect obstetric services at Glan Clwyd.
“Of the 2,300 births at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in 2009, 737 caesareans were performed. 45% of all births were assisted which is 7% above the Wales average so the case for need is very strong,” she said.
“With 90,000 people living within a six mile radius of the hospital it is clear that we need 24/7 high quality emergency maternity services. The statistics also show that in deprived areas like Rhyl west, emergency cases and even miscarriages are far more common.”