Listening must lead to change: Llais responds to Independent Review of Swansea Bay Maternity Services
Today, the Independent Review into maternity and neonatal services at Swansea Bay University Health Board has been published. The Independent Review findings confirm many of the concerns raised in our own report earlier this year, which shared the experiences of over 500 people who used maternity services in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.
While some families described compassionate and professional care, many others told us they felt unheard, unsupported, or unsafe, particularly during labour, after birth, or when trying to raise concerns.
The Independent Review echoes the key themes we heard:
- Inconsistent quality of care and communication
- Lack of involvement in decisions and informed consent
- Poor postnatal support and pain management
- Barriers for minority ethnic families and birth partners
- Unsafe care and avoidable harm
- Understaffing and staff culture issues
- Inadequate complaints handling.
Professor Medwin Hughes, Chair of Llais, said:
“The report published today by the Independent Review confirms a picture of a service and a system that has let down far too many families often with life changing consequences. A service that has not always put people at the centre of their care. We know that improvements are already underway. Real change will be measured by how it feels to give birth and receive care, not just by action plans. We will continue to listen to families and use what we hear to hold services to account.”
Alyson Thomas, Chief Executive of Llais, added:
“This review confirms what people told us: that too many families felt let down at one of the most important and vulnerable times in their lives. These are not isolated stories, they are evidence. Listening must lead to change and confidence in maternity services must be rebuilt.”
Llais supports the Independent Review’s 10 priority recommendations, including faster support when people need help, more compassionate treatment, stronger leadership, and ensuring families are involved in their care.
As the independent statutory voice for people using health and social care in Wales, Llais will:
- Continue listening to families and amplifying their voices in decision-making
- Host the new Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership Cymru to help shape services
- Monitor how the Health Board implements the review’s recommendations
- Work with the NHS and policy makers to ensure lessons are learned nationally
- Participate in the all-Wales assessment of maternity services announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
Safe, respectful, and compassionate maternity care must be a basic right for everyone giving birth living in Wales.
You can read Llais’ report here
If you need support to raise a concern about the maternity and neonatal services you have received, please get in touch with our complaints advocacy service
You can read the Independent Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services at Swansea Bay University Health Board via the links below:
Follow this link to read the full independent review of our maternity and neonatal services, in PDF format