![Wales Hospital Trust maternity services – ‘long way to go’ until safe](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/newborn_baby.jpg)
15
Oct 2019
Wales Hospital Trust maternity services – ‘long way to go’ until safe
An independent review panel has said that there is a “very long way to go” before a Wales health board can be deemed to be safe.
The panel was appointed following a condemning review into Cwn Taf, following the death of a number of babies
The review which uncovered failings at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil and the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taff; branded maternity services “dysfunctional”, and was prompted by 25 serious incidents, including five neonatal deaths and eight stillbirths between January 2016 and September 2018.
The review which was led by the Royal College of Gynaecologists uncovered a catalogue of critical failings and highlighted a number of distressing examples of mothers and babies who were likely to have been harmed as a result of poor care.
Although the panel said that there were “encouraging signs of progress”, it added that it was “too early to provide the assurance which the minister and the women and families of the former Cwm Taf need in order to be confident that all necessary improvements have been achieved to ensure safe, effective, patient-centred, responsive, well managed and well-led services”.
Vaughan Gething, Welsh Health Minister, said there was “clearly still a considerable way to go” to address the problems. He acknowledged the problems still facing the health board, but added that it was reassuring to know that the panel’s engagement work with women, families and staff continued “to move at pace”.
“I am encouraged by the way in which they have accepted the need to make sustainable, organisational wide change which puts quality, safety and patient experience at the heart of all that they do.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382.
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