Wales’ only mother and baby mental health unit to close temporarily for urgent repairs

The Swansea Bay University Health Board confirmed that work will begin on 13 October to fix a significant roof leak and install a new air cooling system. The decision follows a review by the Royal College of Psychiatry, which raised concerns that temperatures inside the unit had exceeded safe sleep standards for babies.

The health board said the closure was unavoidable, stressing that the safety of patients and staff was the overriding priority.

Uned Gobaith — meaning “Unit of Hope” — opened in April 2021 and is the only inpatient perinatal mental health unit in Wales. It was established after years of campaigning by families and clinicians, who warned that mothers experiencing severe mental health problems during or after pregnancy were being forced either onto adult psychiatric wards without their babies, or sent across the border to England for specialist care.

The unit has six bedrooms designed for mothers and their babies, with space for up to seven infants to allow for multiple births. It offers a homely environment with shared living and kitchen areas, a playroom, quiet room and sensory room. Family accommodation is also available for those travelling long distances. A multidisciplinary team — including psychiatrists, mental health nurses, psychologists, midwives, social workers, health visitors and nursery nurses — provides round‑the‑clock care.

The closure means that, for the first time since the unit opened, women in Wales who need inpatient perinatal mental health support may again face being admitted to independent sector beds or sent further afield. The health board’s perinatal mental health team will continue to manage admissions and liaise with the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee to secure alternative provision.

A spokesperson for Swansea Bay University Health Board said:

“This is a temporary, but absolutely necessary measure and it will result in a safer and more suitable environment for everyone in the future.”

The Maternal Mental Health Alliance has previously described the opening of Uned Gobaith as “a significant difference to the lives of women and their families” in Wales. Campaigners have long argued that access to specialist perinatal care is a matter of equality, pointing out that before 2021, Welsh mothers in crisis were often separated from their babies or forced to travel to Bristol or further.

The temporary closure also comes at a time when the health board’s wider maternity services are under intense scrutiny. As Swansea Bay News has reported, a Llais report revealed shocking accounts from new mothers at Singleton Hospital, including claims of women being left in blood‑soaked sheets and dismissed when raising concerns. Following three damning independent reviews, the Welsh Government escalated maternity services at Singleton to the highest level of intervention, and a Scottish health leader has been brought in to oversee reforms.

Work at Uned Gobaith is expected to be completed within four to six weeks, with the unit due to reopen before the end of November.

#MaternalMentalHealthAlliance #maternity #maternityUnit #NHSWalesJointCommissioningCommittee #RoyalCollegeOfPsychiatry #SwanseaBayNHS #Tonna #UnedGobaith

Scottish health leader brought in to scrutinise Swansea Bay maternity overhaul after damning reviews

The appointment of Ann Gow, Deputy Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland and a qualified midwife, comes in the wake of three independent reviews that painted a stark picture of repeated failings in care.

As we reported in July, those reviews uncovered a pattern of poor communication, women and families feeling ignored, a lack of compassion, unsafe environments, and birth partners being separated at critical moments. They also exposed deep‑rooted cultural problems, staffing shortages, and gaps in training — with patient safety and dignity repeatedly compromised.

The findings were so serious that Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles MS moved the services from level 3 to level 4 intervention — the most serious category — placing them under direct Welsh Government oversight.

‘Unacceptable experiences’

Mr Miles said the reviews highlighted “unacceptable patient and family experiences” and that Ms Gow’s role as independent observer on the Swansea Bay Maternity and Neonatal Oversight Panel would be to ensure the health board’s promised reforms are delivered in full.

“I have met the Chief Executive and Chair of Swansea Bay University Health Board on a number of occasions to gain assurance of the safety and quality of care,” he said. “Ann Gow brings extensive leadership experience in improvement, review, regulation and inspection of healthcare provision across all sectors.”

A career built on women and children’s care

Ms Gow’s career spans frontline midwifery and health visiting through to national‑level leadership. In Scotland, she has overseen improvement programmes on healthcare staffing, excellence in care, and integrated services, while raising the visibility and influence of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

Her arrival adds another layer of scrutiny to a system already under intense examination. In August, the Welsh Government also commissioned a Wales‑wide review of maternity and neonatal services led by former Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Professor Sally Holland.

Restoring trust

The oversight panel, chaired by patient safety expert Dr Denise Chaffer CBE, will track the health board’s progress against the reviews’ recommendations and report back to ministers. For families who have endured trauma in Swansea Bay’s maternity units, the hope is that this new appointment signals not just another layer of bureaucracy — but a turning point.

#JeremyMilesMS #maternity #maternityUnit #neonatal #neonatalUnit #SingletonHospital #SwanseaBayNHS #WelshGovernment

Former Children’s Commissioner to lead Wales-wide review of maternity and neonatal services

The Welsh Government says the work will focus on the safety and quality of all maternity and neonatal services, providing “real-time and immediate assurance” in the wake of the independent review into Swansea Bay’s maternity services and the Llais Cymru report on patient experiences at Singleton Hospital.

Professor Holland, a leading social care academic and former Children’s Commissioner for Wales, will head the Maternity and Neonatal Assurance Assessment Oversight Panel. The panel will gather evidence from families, staff and clinical experts, with the voices of women and families described as “central” to understanding the quality, safety and culture of services.

The review follows the July publication of Dr Denise Chaffer’s independent report into Swansea Bay University Health Board, which found repeated failings in care, inconsistent standards and missed opportunities for learning. That report led to the Health Secretary escalating the Health Board’s maternity and neonatal services to Level Four intervention, the second highest level of Welsh Government oversight.

It also comes after Llais Cymru’s investigation revealed distressing accounts from new mothers, including reports of being left in pain, ignored during labour and unsupported after birth.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said the new assessment will “scrutinise maternity and neonatal services across Wales and provide recommendations for how they can be improved”.

Professor Holland will be joined by a panel of experts with backgrounds in family engagement, obstetrics, midwifery and neonatology. Members include Ken Sutton, Heidi Smoult, Sue Holden, Dr Edile Murdoch, Dr Jo Mountfield and Professor Mary Renfrew.

The panel is expected to provide initial advice to the Health Secretary by the end of the year.

#JeremyMilesMS #LlaisCymru #maternity #maternityUnit #SallyHolland #SingletonHospital #SwanseaBayUniversityHealthBoard #WelshGovernment

Independent Review finds repeated failings in Swansea Bay maternity care as Welsh Government escalates intervention

The final report, published today (15 July), coincides with Birth Trauma Awareness Week and follows months of scrutiny into the safety and quality of maternity services at Singleton Hospital and across the Health Board. The review was commissioned in December 2023 and chaired by Dr Denise Chaffer CBE, with oversight from leading KC Margaret Bowron.

The review team engaged with over 1,000 people, including families, staff and community representatives, and examined 168 clinical cases in depth. It found that while many women reported positive experiences, others described traumatic and distressing care, with inconsistent standards and missed opportunities for learning.

Dr Chaffer said: “We have highlighted repeated failures in the quality of care and governance at the Health Board. While some improvements have been made, further action is urgently needed. The Health Board must ensure this conversation continues until all changes are made and sustained improvements are demonstrated.”

The report identifies five key areas of focus: family experience, clinical case review, leadership and staffing, governance, and data outcomes. It also notes recent progress, including improved staffing levels, better training compliance, and a reduction in perinatal mortality and morbidity since 2023.

However, the review concludes that these improvements are not yet embedded and that the Health Board must act decisively to rebuild public confidence.

Escalation to Level Four

In response to the findings, Health Secretary Jeremy Miles has escalated Swansea Bay’s maternity and neonatal services to Level Four intervention — the second highest level — which includes enhanced monitoring and support from Welsh Government.

“I want to offer a full and unreserved apology on behalf of the Welsh Government to all the women and families who have not received the service or care they deserved,” Mr Miles said.

“The experiences highlighted today, those reflected in the recent Llais report, and those I heard when I met families last month must never happen again.”

The Welsh Government has accepted all 11 recommendations in the Independent Review and confirmed that a national assessment of maternity services across Wales will begin this month. The all-Wales assurance assessment will be independently chaired and will align with the England-wide review currently underway.

Local voices and national action

The Independent Review follows extensive reporting by Swansea Bay News, including our coverage of the Llais Cymru report which revealed shocking treatment of new mothers at Singleton Hospital. Families described being left in pain, ignored during labour, and unsupported after birth — with some saying they would not have more children due to their experiences.

Chief Executive of Llais Cymru, Alyson Thomas, said: “Confidence must be rebuilt, and that means turning these findings into visible action fast. The people who have taken time to share their own very personal experiences deserve nothing less.”

The Health Board has issued an unreserved apology and committed to implementing the recommendations in full. Psychological support is available through Ty Elis Counselling Services, an independent and confidential service for those affected by the findings.

Progress and investment

Despite the serious concerns raised, the Health Board has made notable strides in recent months. In September 2024, Neath Port Talbot Birth Centre reopened following a £750,000 investment and the recruitment of 35 new staff. The centre recently celebrated its 100th birth since reopening, with baby Abigail marking a special milestone for the service6.

Home birth services have also been reinstated, and antenatal education classes and home labour assessments are once again being offered to families across Swansea Bay.

In addition, a new digital maternity app is being rolled out across Wales, allowing mothers-to-be to access their full maternity records, track appointments, and receive tailored updates. The app is part of a wider electronic health record system aimed at improving safety, transparency and patient experience.

National safety programme

The Welsh Government’s Maternity and Neonatal Safety Support Programme (MatNeoSSP) continues to drive improvements across Wales. The first progress report, published today, highlights better compliance with national safety indicators and a renewed focus on family-centred care.

The programme is supported by the Maternity and Neonatal Implementation Network, which brings together clinicians, families and policymakers to share learning and improve outcomes.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Shocking treatment of new mothers at Singleton Hospital revealed
Families share distressing accounts of maternity care in Llais Cymru’s investigation.

Minister escalates Swansea Bay maternity services
Welsh Government increases Health Board intervention level following critical review.

Neath Port Talbot Birth Centre marks milestone with baby Abigail
Birth centre celebrates 100th delivery since reopening under new investment.

New maternity app launches in Wales
Digital tool aims to enhance patient experience and access to care records.

What happens next

The Independent Review makes clear that the work must not stop here. The Health Board is expected to publish a detailed action plan and report regularly on progress. Oversight will continue through the independently chaired panel, and further scrutiny is expected as the all-Wales assessment begins.

Dr Chaffer added: “We hope this Review will give the people of Swansea Bay a report which offers in-depth analysis across a broad range of areas, starting with the voices of women and families themselves.”

Swansea Bay News will continue to follow developments closely and provide updates as the Health Board responds to the findings.

#baby #featured #maternity #maternityUnit #NeathPortTalbot #pregnancy #SingletonHospital #Swansea #SwanseaBayNHS

New Carmarthen maternity and neonatal facilities officially opened

Following a £25.2m Welsh Government investment, Hywel Dda Health board say that the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), delivery suites and obstetric theatre accommodation at the Carmarthen hospital have been modernised for the benefit of families across mid and west Wales.

The health board say the purpose built SCBU provides high dependency and special care level of care to premature and unwell newborn babies, with improved facilities and modern technology.

Welcoming its first families in 2022, the clinical space meets national guidance with four ensuite overnight rooms for parents and a family sitting room. The environment has also significantly improved the patient and staff experience in line with Bliss and UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiatives.

The labour ward, which also opened for use in 2022, includes five standard ensuite birthing rooms, one birthing room with a fixed pool, and one birthing room equipped to deal with multiple or complex births. This is in addition to the Midwife Led Unit (MLU).

Improvements to the theatres were completed in 2023 to meet the requirements of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Review and includes an additional obstetric theatre and anaesthesia room. This can allow for both elective and emergency procedures to be undertaken at the same time.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles said: “It was fantastic to officially open the new maternity and neonatal facilities at Glangwili Hospital today, and to see how our investment into these state-of-the-art facilities will support staff to continue delivering high quality care to families closer to home and help give the most vulnerable babies in our communities, the best possible start to life.

“I’d like to thank all the dedicated staff who are caring for and supporting babies and families each day.”

Dr Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda UHB, said: “It is wonderful to come together today to celebrate the official opening of this important development.

“I’d like to thank and congratulate all involved who have ensured our mid and west Wales communities have access to modern facilities that improve the well-being and experience of babies, their families and staff.”

Lisa Humphrey, General Manager for Women and Children’s Services at Hywel Dda UHB, commented: “As project director I would like to thank all of the parents, staff and the contractors for their contribution to the delivery of this scheme.

“Having up-to-date facilities enhances the delivery of high-quality care that the team already provide in an environment that improves well-being for babies, their families and staff.”

(Lead image: Hywel Dda NHS)

#Carmarthen #GlangwiliHospital #HywelDdaNHS #maternity #maternityUnit #neonatal #neonatalUnit

Morriston couple enjoy first Christmas cuddles with baby Archie thanks to “exceptional” maternity care

Aimee Arran and partner Seb Mallows have enjoyed countless cuddles with son Archie since he was born almost two months ago.

Yet their happy story could have had a very different outcome were it not for the “exceptional” care provided at the city’s Singleton Hospital.

Aimee had to undergo an emergency procedure to try to prevent a late miscarriage, with only a 50 per cent chance of success. But fortunately it worked, and Archie arrived safely on Saturday 26th October.

Aimee and Seb, who live in Morriston, have nothing but praise for obstetrics and gynaecology consultant Madhuchanda Dey, lead midwife sonographer Tania Peverley and everyone else involved in her care.

She also thanked sonographer Rebecca Kieft, who conducted the 20-week scan which identified an issue that ultimately saved Archie’s life.

“At 20 weeks it was identified my cervix had shortened and I was put under the new Pre-Term Birth Prevention Clinic with Tania and Mrs Dey,” said first-time mum Aimee.

“Unfortunately at 21+6 weeks, my cervix had failed more. I was, potentially, imminently due to have a late miscarriage.”

Aimee needed an emergency cervical cerclage, which involves temporarily stitching the cervix closed to try to prevent premature birth. Mrs Dey carried out the procedure.

“Her care and advice were fantastic,” said Aimee. “I knew I was in great hands while was also being gently reminded of the risks of the cerclage failing or premature labour happening.

“Towards the end of my pregnancy, having thankfully made it to a safe point, I genuinely felt Mrs Dey was happy to see my pregnancy become a success, which I am sure is down to her procedure.”

From left – lead midwife sonographer Tania Peverley; obstetrics and gynaecology consultant Madhuchanda Dey; midwife sonographer Amy Collins

Aimee described the care from Tania as absolutely brilliant. She said they built a great rapport, and Tania had also been genuinely happy for her.

“Her scans were so thorough and always showed me what she was looking at or looking for,” said Aimee. “She’s fantastic at her job.

“Her bedside manner was brilliant, especially in my initial scan with her where I received the bad news my cervix had failed even more.

“I was understandably so upset. She really tried to comfort me but also remained realistic and professional about the situation I was in.”

Aimee was booked in for the cerclage to be removed at 37 weeks on Thursday 24th October. Before the stitch could be taken out she went into labour during the early hours. Archie arrived on the 26th.

“The care I received on ward 19 and on the labour ward was brilliant. My delivery midwife, Amanda Bates and her student, whose name unfortunately I cannot remember, were phenomenal,” she said. 

“Archie is doing well – he’s really great. Without the care and support I received I am sad to think he may not be here today. I am forever in debt to Mrs Dey and her team. 

“If Rebecca had not identified the issue with my cervix at the 20-week scan, I would not have had the additional scans, and the outcome would have been devastating.

“People are quick to complain about standards of care but don’t talk enough when they have a positive experience. From beginning to end, I have absolutely no complaints.”

[Lead image: Swansea Bay University Health Board]

#maternityUnit #SingletonHospital #SwanseaUniversityHealthBoard