Maternity care under pressure in north Wales, says boss

Maternity units in north Wales have had to suddenly close on 16 separate occasions in just 12 months, BBC Wales has learned.

A shortage of doctors is often the reason which has left expectant mothers being transferred at short notice to give birth further away from home.

It is understood the three maternity units in Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Wrexham have on different occasions implemented "emergency closures".

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board's head of midwifery, Fiona Giraud, said the service was being run as if in an emergency mode 24 hours a day.