Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, said despite the Welsh Government’s new strategy on maternity services, real concerns about services in Mid Wales still remain.
During the first debate of the new Assembly term, Mr George highlighted the challenges that existed in delivering maternity services in rural Wales and in particular, how reliant expectant mothers in Montgomeryshire were on emergency treatment from hospitals in England.
During the debate Mr George said:
“It is apt that in Rural Health Week, I have the opportunity to raise the particular challenges that delivering maternity services to dispersed rural communities presents.
“While I do welcome the Government’s new strategy and its focus on improving standards and outcomes, maternity services need to be planned in such a way that they meet the needs of the local population, whilst also promoting best practise.
“Maternity services in Powys are unique – it has one of the highest levels of home births anywhere in the UK. It has led the way in developing a strong midwife-led service and this shows that we have taken innovative and practical steps in solving some of the rural challenges that we face.
“However, the simple fact of the matter is that for elective, complex or emergency treatment, we rely heavily on the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. That is why I have real concerns about the reconfiguration of services in Shropshire.”
“The removal of consultant-led services from Shrewsbury to Telford, coupled with a large reduction in obstetric beds could potentially put many women at increased risk.
“Can we possibly allow women suffering complicated pregnancies or difficult labours, not only to travel further but when they get there not guarantee them a specialist bed?
“The Welsh Government and Powys Health Board must both take proactive action to ensure that women living in Powys experience an excellent and above all safe service. After all, giving birth is possibly one of the great experiences a woman will have in her lifetime and we all have a duty to ensure that it is the very best experience it can be.”
