A DOCUMENT examining the future for maternity services in Wales has been criticised by the Hywel Dda Health Board and Community Health Council (CHC) for not addressing the rural nature of many areas.

‘A Vision for Maternity Services in Wales’ has been described as “very weak on detail” in the CHC’s response, which adds that it does not “address the realistic present situation”.

Chief officer of the CHC, Ashley Warlow, said: “The CHC is concerned at several aspects within the consultation document which was weak on detail and which was clearly aimed at services being provided in an urban setting.

“The geography and rurality of west Wales needed to be fully recognised, with transport being a key issue.

“The critical mass argument in the vision would penalise women in the rural areas and could lead to only a midwifery-led service being available in hospitals such as Bronglais and Withybush, particularly given the current trend within Hywel Dda LHB to move services eastwards to Carmarthen and beyond.

“From a CHC perspective there should be an equality of service across all areas and women should not face any increased risk because they have chosen to live in more rural areas.”

Mr Warlow said that the CHC had written to the chief executive of the Hywel Dda LHB seeking an update on its own internal review of maternity services, the options that were being developed and when consultation and engagement with patient and the public upon the topic might be forthcoming.

The Health Board said it would also like to highlight that in its response to the consultation it has noted that the document does not address the rural environment in which Hywel Dda operates.

'No decisions yet' on Withybush maternity unit

A MEETING due to take place this week could see final options for maternity services put forward and there are fears that one option could see just one consultant-led unit for all three counties of the Hywel Dda Health Board.

Clinical work groups have been meeting for many months discussing options for all areas of the health service and the Save Withybush Action Team (SWAT) has raised particular concern about maternity services.

Members are worried that one option could be to have one level two neo-natal unit in Hywel Dda.

Without a level two neo-natal a hospital cannot house a consultant led maternity unit relying on midwife-led teams and putting many women at risk, say SWAT.

A Hywel Dda spokesman said: “All consultants and key clinical staff have been invited to be part of the engagement work for each specialisation, including all those from Withybush.

“The Health Board is carrying out these clinically-led reviews of our services to identify how we will provide high quality, safe and sustainable services in the future. “A number of options are being developed that will address the issues across Hywel Dda and no decisions have been made yet. These options will take into consideration the expert advice of the Royal Colleges, as well as the Welsh Assembly, and any significant proposals will be subject to further public consultation in line with our legal duty.”