A national review has described maternity and neonatal care in Wales as compassionate and increasingly well-integrated but warned that vulnerabilities persist due to rising intervention rates, fragile staffing, and inconsistent postnatal and mental health support.
In 2024, there were 26,951 births in Wales, with 4,776 to women registered with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and 4,952 deliveries taking place in its hospitals.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said it “welcomes Professor Sally Holland’s findings and the compassionate manner in which the review was conducted with parents, babies, families and colleagues”.
A spokesperson continued: “We recognise the vulnerabilities identified across maternity, neonatal and postnatal care, and acknowledge that further progress is needed.
“We are committed to strengthening postnatal care, perinatal mental health pathways, obstetric triage and induction of labour services as part of our ongoing programme of improvement.
“We also welcome the review’s recognition of the compassionate and personalised care provided by our colleagues, and of the high standards delivered by the Cardiff Birth Partner Project, the Maternity Psychology Team and Neonatal Services at University Hospital Wales.
“As a learning organisation, we will now take forward the next steps in response to the eight key recommendation identified.
“A three-year improvement plan for Wales will be developed once the national leadership team is established.
“While this is being established, we have an internal oversight panel in place to closely monitor service development and ensure progress is aligned with national priority areas.
“Our focus remains on continuous improvement to ensure every woman and every baby receives safe, high-quality and compassionate care.”
The University Hospital of Wales provides a major obstetric unit and one of Wales’s three neonatal intensive care units, meaning the most premature and sick babies from a wide area are routinely transferred into the city.
Women and families highlighted compassionate care from midwives, neonatal nurses, and specialist teams but raised concerns about gaps in postnatal support and inconsistent communication around induction and caesarean decisions.
Staff reported high stress and burnout due to rota gaps, reliance on junior staff, and increasing clinical demands.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “All mothers, babies and families have the right to safe, high‑quality care.
“I commissioned the national assurance assessment to provide an independent, objective examination of maternity and neonatal services. It highlights areas of excellence, identifies where improvements are needed, and reinforces the dedication and professionalism of our workforce.
“I want to thank the panel for their work and am grateful to all those who engaged with the assessment process. Their insights and experiences have been invaluable, ensuring the voices of women, families, staff and communities across Wales are reflected in the final report.
“The Welsh Government and the NHS will now take forward the recommendations to ensure lasting improvements are made to maternity and neonatal services.”
Labour induction and caesarean rates continue to rise.
