Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair welcomed Members and members of the public to the meeting

PAC(4) 25-12 – Paper 1 – Welsh Government

David Sissling, Director General, Health, Social Services & Children

Dr Chris Jones, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Health Services)

Prof Jean White, Chief Nursing Officer and Co-Chair of the All Wales Maternity Services Implementation Group
Claire Foster, Co-Chair of the All Wales Maternity Services Implementation Group

2.1 The Committee took evidence from the Welsh Government and the Co-Chairs of the All Wales Maternity Services Implementation Group. In particular, Members asked the witnesses about:

·         The strategic framework for maternity services in Wales

·         Staffing levels and training

·         The provision of neonatal services

·         Caesarean section rates

·         A review of the breastfeeding programme in Wales

Action points:

2.2 The Welsh Government and the Co-Chairs of the All Wales Maternity Services Implementation Group agreed to provide:

·         Further information on how a measurement of ‘confident and knowledgeable parents’ would be made, following appropriate discussions;

·         Data highlighting the number of practitioners needing to move to the RCOG training tool method;

·         Further information on the recruitment of neonatologists in Wales including details on how the trend in the reduction of neonatologists is being addressed;

·         A link to research conducted by Public Health Wales on the relationship between BMI, pregnancy and caesarean rates;

·         Further information on the number of agency staff used in midwifery;

·         A timescale for the rollout of electronic foetal heart rate monitoring for different Local Health Boards;

·         Further information on the progress made by Local Health Boards in implementing the caesarean toolkit.

Paul Roberts, Chief Executive AMBU LHB

Allison Williams, Chief Executive, Cwm Taf LHB

Kath McGrath, Assistant Director of Operations, Cwm Taf LHB

6.1 The Committee took evidence from Cwm Taf and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Boards. In particular, Members asked the witnesses about:

·         The strategic framework for maternity services in Wales;

·         Staffing levels and training;

·         The provision of neonatal care;

·         Breastfeeding; and

·         Caesarean section rates

Action points:

Cwm Taf Health board agreed to provide:

·         Clarity on the current rate at which women have had first contact with a medical professional (whether they are a GP or a midwife) before the tenth week of their pregnancy.

·         Information on the evaluation of the trial co-location of low and higher risk delivery units.

·         Information on their month-to-month caesarean section rates

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board agreed to provide:

·         Information on their month-to-month caesarean section rates

·         Information on its position in terms of meeting recommended levels of medical and nurse staffing, and meeting the 90:10 ration of qualified to unqualified

·         Information on the development of peer-to-peer support groups

3.1 The Committee noted:

·         The minutes of the previous committee meeting; and

·         Correspondence received from the Auditor General for Wales on issues arising from the Minister for Finance’s letter regarding the Public Audit (Wales) Bill (Paper 2).

Item 5 and 7.

Item 7

7.1 The Committee discussed key issues and themes emerging from the evidence they had heard around Maternity Services in Wales.

7.2 The Committee agreed to produce a report of its short inquiry into Maternity Services in Wales.