Glan Clwyd Hospital maternity care concerns raised by AMs

The Welsh government wants intensive care for babies in north Wales to be centralised at Glan Clwyd

Mothers-to-be across north Wales will be forced to travel to Gwynedd or Wrexham if they get into difficulties during labour.

Consultant care at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, has been suspended for 18 months until staffing concerns are addressed.

A report to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to operate a midwifery-led unit was agreed at meeting on Tuesday.

Local politicians say they are concerned about the proposals.

But board chairman Dr Peter Higson told Tuesday's board meeting: "At the moment the service is safe, but the worry is that it's not sustainable".

He added: "Eighteen months is what we're giving you, no more...to get things sorted...it's got to be done."

Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones and Clwyd West AM Darren Millar wanted the plans scrapped.

They said such a move means complex births would be transferred to either Wrexham Maelor or Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

Last year the Welsh government decided intensive care services for babies in north Wales should be centralised at Glan Clwyd.

Maternity services have been the subject of a controversial health board review focussing on the region's three district hospitals.

Tuesday's report said: "Sufficient time will be required to re-establish the service at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, and the interim reconfiguration will be required for a minimum period of 12 months."