Welsh Health Minister orders inquiry into baby death at Gwent hospital (From Campaign Series)
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Welsh Health Minister orders inquiry into baby death at Ystrad Mynach Hospital
6:40pm Wednesday 7th November 2012 in News
By David Deans - Politics reporter
THE Welsh health minister tonight ordered an inquiry after a woman's baby died while she waited two hours for an ambulance for an emergency caesarean section.
The woman is understood to have been at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach and had been waiting for an ambulance to the Royal Gwent Hospital when the incident took place last Thursday.
Health minister Lesley Griffiths was reacting to comments made by Plaid AM Jocelyn Davies in the Assembly about the case.
Ms Davies asked for a reaction from Ms Griffiths about a Caerphilly woman who last week waited two hours for an ambulance to take her from Ystrad Mynach to the Royal Gwent Hospital where her baby then died during an attempted forceps delivery.
She asked the minister: “Will you ensure that the family’s wishes for a proper investigation are met?
“Will women have confidence in midwife-led centres if they have no confidence in an ambulance should things go wrong?”
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, run by Gwent's Aneurin Bevan Health Board, has a midwifery-led birthing unit.
Ms Griffiths responded saying she was aware of the case: “I can assure you I will be writing to the Aneurin Bevan Health Board to ensure a thorough investigation."
Ms Davies raised the matter during a debate on Wales' ambulance service, called by the Liberal Democrats, in the Senedd on Wednesday evening.
Comments(9)
Aquarius
says...
9:47pm Wed 7 Nov 12
Yes, it comes down to the ever-increasing demand for ambulances (not all justified, as the previous person correctly stated) and totally inadequate resources.
More ambulance crews needed and therefore, REALISTIC FUNDING.
Still, I suppose there will be the usual facile statement from an Ambulance Service director, an internal investigation and then a search for someone - probably in Ambulance Control - who can be made a scapegoat. Again.
Note to the Welsh Government: when you finally decide to fund the Ambulance Service properly, make sure the Service has senior managers at the top who are capable of spending the money properly. I don't think there's many of the current lot that fit the bill, but they're very proficient at coming up with excuses and people lower down to blame.
maryring
says...
9:47pm Wed 7 Nov 12
BLACKIE2012
says...
11:33pm Wed 7 Nov 12
FreeWorld
says...
6:43am Thu 8 Nov 12
ing. Although further questions need to be asked. If the mother waited 2 hours for an ambulance so that she could have an 'emergency' c-section @ RGH......why did on arrival @ RGH did they attempt a forceps delivery?????
signal box
says...
8:28am Thu 8 Nov 12
But the minister must accept that they must have a root and branch restructure of the Welsh Ambulance Service the amalganation of NHS Direct and Welsh Ambulance Service was a huge mistake lets follow the trend and get rid of NHS Direct don't let these staff take over the management of the Ambulance Service also get rid of the managers such as Retired Police Officers who have been imported to run the service. Aquarius is correct the management will carry out an investigation and then hang out to dry a junior member of staff.
Templar05
says...
4:23pm Thu 8 Nov 12
I am going to agree with Richie 55 . I worked in the A and E department for 3 years and I seen people arriving in ambulances like they were taxis and leaving the hospital in a cab .Paramedics use to tell me that when they worked a 12 hour shift , they rarely had a tea break . Keep up the good work everyone, at the RGH .
snowy0211
says...
7:40pm Thu 8 Nov 12
Bobevans
says...
9:29am Fri 9 Nov 12
richie55 says...
7:33pm Wed 7 Nov 12