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| Mark Drakeford to meet Withybush Hospital baby unit plan opponents | Mark Drakeford to meet Withybush Hospital baby unit plan opponents |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Campaigners opposing changes to specialist baby care in west Wales have taken their protest to the assembly. | Campaigners opposing changes to specialist baby care in west Wales have taken their protest to the assembly. |
| Health minister Mark Drakeford has announced plans that would see Withybush Hospital's special care baby unit close in Haverfordwest. | Health minister Mark Drakeford has announced plans that would see Withybush Hospital's special care baby unit close in Haverfordwest. |
| Hywel Dda health board, and the Welsh government, said the changes would provide a better level of care. | Hywel Dda health board, and the Welsh government, said the changes would provide a better level of care. |
| A number of the campaigners gathered in Cardiff Bay are hoping to meet the minister to discuss the issue. | A number of the campaigners gathered in Cardiff Bay are hoping to meet the minister to discuss the issue. |
| Last month, about 1,000 people marched in protest at the controversial plans. | Last month, about 1,000 people marched in protest at the controversial plans. |
| Under the proposed new system, doctors in Carmarthen will provide specialist care, with other hospitals eventually providing a midwife-led service. | Under the proposed new system, doctors in Carmarthen will provide specialist care, with other hospitals eventually providing a midwife-led service. |
| Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, will become a midwife-led maternity unit, although during the transition period it will also retain some consultants. | Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, will become a midwife-led maternity unit, although during the transition period it will also retain some consultants. |
| The plans were initially revealed a year ago by the health board, but were vetoed by the local patients watchdog over concerns that closing the special care baby unit in Haverfordwest could put lives at risk. | The plans were initially revealed a year ago by the health board, but were vetoed by the local patients watchdog over concerns that closing the special care baby unit in Haverfordwest could put lives at risk. |
| It meant Mr Drakeford had to step in to review the decision himself, and he has taken advice from a panel of experts. | It meant Mr Drakeford had to step in to review the decision himself, and he has taken advice from a panel of experts. |
| The advisory panel indicated providing special baby care units across the health board was "neither safe nor sustainable". | The advisory panel indicated providing special baby care units across the health board was "neither safe nor sustainable". |
| On Wednesday, a demonstration was taking place at the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, and Mark Drakeford had agreed to meet a small delegation, which was to include AMs, Joyce Watson and Rebecca Evans. | |
| Ms Evans said it was a chance for the minister to "address the concerns in detail". | Ms Evans said it was a chance for the minister to "address the concerns in detail". |
| Ms Watson added: "The minister has confirmed that, while the midwife-led unit is being set up at Withybush, there will be consultant obstetric cover to support midwives. | Ms Watson added: "The minister has confirmed that, while the midwife-led unit is being set up at Withybush, there will be consultant obstetric cover to support midwives. |
| "However, it is critical that all services in place after this initial establishing phase are built around the safety of mothers and babies." | "However, it is critical that all services in place after this initial establishing phase are built around the safety of mothers and babies." |
| The demonstration was being led by Save Withybush Action Team (SWAT). | |
| Chris Overton, the group's chair, said eight buses were ferrying protesters to Cardiff, and he was hoping 500 people would demonstrate. | Chris Overton, the group's chair, said eight buses were ferrying protesters to Cardiff, and he was hoping 500 people would demonstrate. |
| Dr Overton, a consultant obstetrician at Withybush, recently wrote to Mr Drakeford, and received a reply from Wales' chief medical officer, Dr Ruth Hussey. | Dr Overton, a consultant obstetrician at Withybush, recently wrote to Mr Drakeford, and received a reply from Wales' chief medical officer, Dr Ruth Hussey. |
| 'Rights of the child' | 'Rights of the child' |
| In it, she wrote: "The service changes being implemented actively promote the rights of the child by increasing the likelihood of survival and long term wellbeing for sick and premature babies needing intensive care. | In it, she wrote: "The service changes being implemented actively promote the rights of the child by increasing the likelihood of survival and long term wellbeing for sick and premature babies needing intensive care. |
| "This will be achieved through the increased compliance with British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) standards that the reconfigured service will provide." | "This will be achieved through the increased compliance with British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) standards that the reconfigured service will provide." |
| In a reply to Dr Hussey, Dr Overton wrote: "As a doctor it is my duty to raise concerns when potential patients are being put in danger. I will continue to do so with my last breath." | In a reply to Dr Hussey, Dr Overton wrote: "As a doctor it is my duty to raise concerns when potential patients are being put in danger. I will continue to do so with my last breath." |
| In another email, he asked: "How is it safer for a child with epiglottitis or a severe asthma attack to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency? | In another email, he asked: "How is it safer for a child with epiglottitis or a severe asthma attack to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency? |
| "How is it safer for a heavily pregnant woman bleeding to death as recently reported in the papers to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency?" | "How is it safer for a heavily pregnant woman bleeding to death as recently reported in the papers to have to travel 45 minutes further in an emergency?" |
| He has branded the plans a "very foolish mistake" which will cost lives. | He has branded the plans a "very foolish mistake" which will cost lives. |
| The Welsh government said: "The advice of the expert panel on the future of neonatal services in Hywel Dda was clear: attempting to continue to provide neonatal specialist services across all Hywel Dda hospitals is neither safe nor sustainable. | The Welsh government said: "The advice of the expert panel on the future of neonatal services in Hywel Dda was clear: attempting to continue to provide neonatal specialist services across all Hywel Dda hospitals is neither safe nor sustainable. |
| "The minister accepted the panel's advice to develop a modern Level 2 Neonatal Unit at Glangwili Hospital, which will serve the population of Pembrokeshire in a way which will allow clinicians to maintain their expertise and so provide the best possible service for mothers and their babies." | "The minister accepted the panel's advice to develop a modern Level 2 Neonatal Unit at Glangwili Hospital, which will serve the population of Pembrokeshire in a way which will allow clinicians to maintain their expertise and so provide the best possible service for mothers and their babies." |