Investment key to improving maternity care at Merthyr's Prince Charles Hospital

By Julie Lewis, medical negligence partner at Irwin Mitchell

I was interested to read the Welsh Government cabinet statement issued on 7th September dealing with interim findings from the Independent Maternity Services Oversight Panel’s deep-dive review of neonatal care at Prince Charles Hospital, in Merthyr Tydfil. 

The review was carried out by a neonatologist and neonatal nurse and involved an interview with various stakeholders including 100 families who had experienced neonatal care and a review of the case notes of the sickest infants admitted to the neonatal unit. 

There were several findings, but I was reassured to see the recommendation that investment in two additional neonatology posts was needed together with closer working and support from the specialist neonatal unit in Cardiff.

If we are to improve outcomes for these sick babies and improve patient safety, in my view it is essential that we invest in these services. 

The statement references the pressure that the staff on the unit are operating under - the Welsh government must do all they can to alleviate that pressure and provide the necessary support to enable the doctors and nurses to focus on bringing about the important improvements identified.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting families affected by maternity care at our dedicated birth injuries section. 

There were several findings, but I was reassured to see the recommendation that investment in two additional neonatology posts was needed together with closer working and support from the specialist neonatal unit in Cardiff.”