Child and baby care changes at Royal Glamorgan Hospital

Seriously ill babies and children will no longer be treated at a hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taff as part of a major shake-up of services.

Paediatric and obstetric services at Royal Glamorgan Hospital will be downgraded from 2018.

Children and babies who need to be admitted will be sent to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, or the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

Cwm Taf health board said the changes had been "successfully tested".

Chief Executive Allison Williams said the changes would affect a "small amount of children" who needed to stay in hospital overnight.

The move comes after a public consultation by the health board in 2014 looked at how to address problems recruiting and retaining staff in speciality areas.

As part of the changes, due to be implemented next Summer, a new paediatric assessment unit has opened at the hospital in Ynysmaerdy, near Llantrisant, operating from 08:00-22:00 GMT.

Any child needing to stay overnight will be transferred to another hospital and seriously injured or sick children will be taken to the most appropriate hospital.

'Business as usual'

Ms Williams said plans had been approved for state-of-the-art facilities in Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil to "support the changes" and building work was progressing well.

She added: "Over the coming months, we will be working closely with our staff on the detailed arrangements to implement the plans, which are designed to help us to deliver the best possible care and develop services which are fit for the future.

"We will, of course, communicate widely with the public about the changes nearer the time but until then, it is business as usual at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital."