A decision to temporarily close the home birth service in Swansea Bay again was "the last thing we wanted to do", a health leader said. Mark Hackett, chief executive of Swansea Bay University Health Board, said staff sickness linked to Covid and a shortfall in recruitment meant the home birth service had had to close for three months.
The "alongside" midwifery unit at Singleton Hospital continues to operate but the "free-standing" midwifery unit in Neath Port Talbot Hospital remains suspended. Speaking at a health board meeting on July 28, Mr Hackett said he expected the staffing issues to be resolved between September and December.
"The decision not to continue with home births, it's the last thing we wanted to do," he said. "We are committed to getting that service back up and running as soon as possible alongside the free-standing unit in Neath Port Talbot. I understand for the mothers concerned the devastating impacts this has on their expectation."
