Welsh Conservatives have today reiterated calls for urgent improvements in neonatal care services, following the publication of a report highlighting that vulnerable babies in Wales are being put at risk by inadequate neonatal resources.
Commenting on the Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee report into neonatal services in Wales, Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies AM said:
“As a member of the committee that compiled this report, I heard some very disturbing evidence in the course of our inquiry.
“Neonatal units in Wales are understaffed, ill-equipped and over-capacity and clearly this can have a very serious impact on the care of infants in these units.
“It is particularly worrying that there are insufficient resources to meet the growing demands on neonatal services across Wales. This places extreme pressure on neonatal staff who work so hard to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of babies in their care.
“I would urge the Assembly Government to address severe understaffing in units and the high occupancy rates, which are double the recommended level at 140% in some units.
“It is incumbent on the Minister to ensure that the recommendations of this report are implemented so that vulnerable babies can have the best possible start to their lives.”
