An update regarding pressures on maternity services

Our Health Board continues to face extreme pressures across services which includes maternity. Unfortunately, the Health Board has had to make the difficult decision to suspend home birthing services until October 2022 to alleviate workforce pressures in hospital midwifery settings, particularly the Midwifery Led Unit. By temporarily suspending home birthing services it will give us the best chance possible of keeping the Midwifery Led Unit open and ensure we are able to maintain safe services. Workforce issues are a significant challenge due to non-COVID related sickness and staff vacancies. Cases of COVID-19 are also increasing in the community and hospital settings which also presents increased pressure.

Our ability to safely maintain these services for women, birthing people and their families remains under constant review. Our teams are working tirelessly to maintain optimum service provision, but due to pressures related to the pandemic, we have to manage services to allow us to continue to provide the best possible care and it is our priority that our services maintain safety at all times. We apologise for the impact this will have on people using our services.

We would like to reassure people with midwife led birth plans that these will continue to be followed, but in some cases may be in a different environment. One-to-one care in labour will be maintained and expertise in midwifery-led care is still available within the main delivery suite, which offers limited access to water birth facilities.

All birthing people are encouraged to make their labour and delivery space their own and will be supported to do so by our midwives. Infection prevention and control measures remain in place to help keep you safe.

If you wish to discuss your options further please contact your midwife. Thank you to our dedicated staff who continue to go above and beyond to provide exceptional care to our patients, and to our population for your continued co-operation and support.

Midwifery Led Unit:

Current status: Open

This is being reviewed daily.

Home birthing services:

Current status: Suspended until October 2022