Paul Davies, the Welsh Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire has been lobbying the Minister for Health and Social Services, and Hywel Dda University Health Board to ensure patient experiences play a major part in the independent evaluation of the controversial changes made to maternity and neonatal services at Withybush Hospital.

The evaluation report is expected to be published in September this year, and it is understood the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the Health Board to be held on 26th March. Details of the evaluation process will also be published on the Hywel Dda University Health Board website.

Commenting on the issue, Paul Davies said “Since these damaging and controversial changes were made last year, numerous constituents have contacted me to relay their awful experiences. These have included far longer journey times to Glangwili Hospital to deliver babies which has been a cause of real concern and anxiety for expectant mothers and their families. I feel it is vital that these real life patient experiences feature very heavily in the evaluation process, as after all, it is patients that are greatly impacted by these changes.”

Mr Davies added “I wrote to the Minister for Health and Social Services, Mark Drakeford AM to highlight my demands, and the Minister has written back to me to confirm that patient experiences should be a key component of the evaluation process. In addition, I have met with the new Chief Executive of the Hywel Dda University Health Board, Mr Steve Moore, and Chair Mrs Bernardine Rees to raise this issue. Naturally, I will be closely monitoring this evaluation process. We need an open and transparent listening process, not just some tick box exercise.”