Cwm Taf Morgannwg has given notice of a temporary 12-week closure of neonatal and maternity units at the Princess of Wales Hospital.
The closure is set to start on Monday 2nd September 2024 and is part of a £1million upgrade to electrical and air management systems.
“During the 12 weeks period in which the work will be undertaken, we will be unable to maintain business continuity across the site, and so both the maternity and neonatal teams will be relocated for a short period of time, away from Princess of Wales Hospital.
“We fully appreciate that for many families in the Bridgend area, this may cause concern. Your key point of contact is your community midwife, who will be able to advise you on the options available to you for the birth of your baby. We have also published a frequently asked questions document, which we hope will answer many of your questions.
“This work demonstrates a significant investment our neonatal and maternity services at the Princess of Wales site which will be used by families in our communities in the future.
– Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board
The health board says the majority of midwife and obstetric-led maternity services are set to be temporarily provided at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, while the midwifery unit at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant (Tirion Birth Centre) can also be used for uncomplicated pregnancies.
Neighbouring health boards have been informed of the plans and have “offered support”, with expectant mothers set to be able to choose to have an obstetric-led birth at Singleton Hospital in Swansea or University Hospital Cardiff.
Any expectant mothers/parents affected by the plans have been advised to discuss the changes with their named community midwife.
A full FAQ – covering issues such as home birth, neonatal care, antenatal classes, scans and early births – is available here (pdf).
