Women in one part of Wales told they can no longer have the births they planned

The announcement affects women due to give birth in the next six weeks

Women due to give birth in the coming weeks have been told they can’t have the births they planned due to “significant staffing challenges”. The changes affect women in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, which includes Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.

Health board bosses said they have taken the decision to suspend its home birth services as well as shut a midwifery-led birthing centre at one of its hospitals for the next six weeks.

Women will no longer be able to give birth at the Tirion birth centre, which opened at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in 2019, which the health board says is a “temporary” decision in response to staff shortages. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here

No confirmation has been given as to when Tirion will reopen, or home births will resume, with Cwm Taf Morgannwg saying in a statement the temporary change will be “reviewed” after a six-week period. The health board also apologised for any “concern” caused by the “temporary suspension”.

The Tirion midwifery-led birth centre opened in 2019 when the health board rearranged how it delivered maternity care across the region. It is an option for women following a midwife-led care pathway, with the three rooms being staffed and managed by midwives.

Previously, the Royal Glamorgan Hospital had consultant doctors working there to provide women and neonatal care, but these services were relocated and centralised to be delivered at Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital and Merthyr Tydfil’s Prince Charles Hospital.

Those women who have been told they will no longer be able to give birth at Tirion but still wish to give birth in a midwifery-led birth centre will have access to care at the Tair Afon birth centre at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr, and at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

The health board said antenatal and postnatal services including breast feeding support will continue to operate as usual from Tirion birth centre during the day.

A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: “Due to significant staffing challenges, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our home birth service and midwifery-led births at Tirion Birth Centre. We will review this temporary change after a six week period.

“Women who wish to give birth in a midwifery-led birth centre will continue to have access to midwifery led care at Tair Afon Birth Centre, Prince Charles Hospital, and at Princess of Wales Hospital. Antenatal and postnatal services including breast feeding support will continue to operate as usual from Tirion Birth Centre during the day.

“Our community midwives are available to support families to discuss their birth options. We apologise for any concern this temporary suspension may cause and thank our women and families for their understanding.”

If you have been affected by the change to birth services in Cwm Taf Morganwwg and would like to get in touch, please email ellie.gosley@walesonline.co.uk.