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| Maternity care shake-up in north Wales goes to consultation | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Controversial changes which could see consultant-led maternity care withdrawn from a district hospital in north Wales are to go out to public consultation. | |
| Betsi Cadwaladr health board is looking at plans to downgrade services at one of the area's three district hospitals. | |
| In January, plans were approved to downgrade maternity care at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire. | |
| But managers backed down after an outcry which prompted the rethink at a health board meeting on Tuesday. | |
| The issues stemmed from a shortage of doctors. | |
| Health board medical director Prof Matthew Makin told the meeting: "There is a universal desire for the safety of mothers and babies - that's why we're all here. | Health board medical director Prof Matthew Makin told the meeting: "There is a universal desire for the safety of mothers and babies - that's why we're all here. |
| "Service change is seen as a threat and is particularly emotive. But we would not be proposing change unless we felt that the risks we are currently managing are becoming unmanageable. | "Service change is seen as a threat and is particularly emotive. But we would not be proposing change unless we felt that the risks we are currently managing are becoming unmanageable. |
| "Any change will be temporary and for as short a time as possible to stabilise the service." | "Any change will be temporary and for as short a time as possible to stabilise the service." |
| When services at Glan Clwyd Hospital were downgraded, more complicated births were transferred to hospitals at Bangor in Gwynedd or Wrexham. | When services at Glan Clwyd Hospital were downgraded, more complicated births were transferred to hospitals at Bangor in Gwynedd or Wrexham. |
| The health board said the situation was so urgent, it did not have time to ask the public for their views. | The health board said the situation was so urgent, it did not have time to ask the public for their views. |
| But the move prompted public opposition, was challenged in court and managers backed down. | But the move prompted public opposition, was challenged in court and managers backed down. |
| Bosses still favour that option and the board agreed at its meeting in Llandudno, Conwy county, to press ahead with a public consultation on that and other plans. | |
| Greater risk | |
| This could mean withdrawing doctor-led maternity care at Bangor or Wrexham or there could be no change so consultant-led care would remain at all three hospitals. | |
| On Sunday, the health board's interim chief executive Simon Dean said maternity units in north Wales have previously been forced to temporarily shut over safety fears for mothers and babies. | On Sunday, the health board's interim chief executive Simon Dean said maternity units in north Wales have previously been forced to temporarily shut over safety fears for mothers and babies. |
| Critics of the plan say expectant mothers needing care from doctors would be put at greater risk by having to travel further. | Critics of the plan say expectant mothers needing care from doctors would be put at greater risk by having to travel further. |
| The British Medical Association and politicians have also been highly critical of the health board for not seeking the views of staff and the public in drawing up its plans. | The British Medical Association and politicians have also been highly critical of the health board for not seeking the views of staff and the public in drawing up its plans. |
| A final decision will be taken in November after the consultation closes. |