Midwifery-led births at Tirion Birth Centre at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant have been temporarily suspended from 9am on Friday, November 13, due to significant and continuing staffing challenges, the health board has announced.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board confirmed the suspension, which affects women planning to give birth in a midwifery-led unit. The services were also suspended in August. Women seeking midwifery-led births will continue to have access to care at Tair Afon Birth Centre at Prince Charles Hospital and at Princess of Wales Hospital.
Previous suspensions and public reaction
There have been earlier temporary suspensions of midwife-led births at Tirion this year owing to staff shortages. The announcement, posted on the board's website and the Tirion Birth Centre Facebook page, drew frustrated responses from expectant mothers.
One woman due to give birth soon said she had been advised by her midwife that there was no need to notify Tirion in advance, and questioned how the board would contact affected families. Others asked why shortages persist when some trained midwives cannot find jobs.
Background and health board response
The Tirion midwifery-led birth centre opened in 2019 when the health board reorganised maternity care across the region. It offers three rooms staffed and managed by midwives for women on a midwife-led care pathway. Consultant-led services that previously operated at Royal Glamorgan Hospital were relocated to Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend and Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.
The health board said antenatal and postnatal services, including breastfeeding support, will continue to operate as usual from Tirion during the day. It apologised for any concern the suspension may cause and said the position will be kept under review.
Suzanne Hardacre, director of midwifery at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said the priority is to provide safe, high-quality maternity care and that the temporary measure was necessary due to significant staffing pressures. She added that the board will be in contact with affected families to discuss individual birth plans.
