A health board has been forced to temporarily close midwife-led services at all its hospitals except one due to staff absences from coronavirus.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board announced it is shutting its midwife-led birthing areas at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Nevill Hall Hospital, Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr to "ensure the safety of expectant mothers and their babies".
It said on social media that it was "currently seeing increased staff absence due to sickness and self-isolation in our midwifery services".
It has redeployed midwives to the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran where all births will temporarily be directed. The measures will be in place until January 17.
In a statement the health board said: "We are currently seeing increased staff absence due to sickness and self-isolation in our midwifery services. To ensure the safety of expectant mothers and their babies, we have taken the decision to temporarily cease births at our midwife led birthing areas in Royal Gwent Hospital, Nevill Hall Hospital, Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr.
"For the small number of women who are planning a home birth this will be assessed on a case by case basis, in line with assessment of daily staffing.
"This arrangement will allow us to redeploy midwives to the Grange University Hospital where all births will temporarily be directed. We have both an obstetric unit and a midwifery led birthing unit at the Grange with a birth pool, low lighting, birthing balls and equipment to enhance physiological birth, and more.
"We apologise to the small number of expectant mothers who will be affected by this change. If you are due to have your baby and need to contact a midwife you can continue to call the number provided to you in your hand held notes.
"This arrangement will be in place from 8am on January 5 until 8am until January 17, when we are hopeful that a full service will resume."
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has already announced measures to deal with staff pressures across other services this week. On Monday evening it asked people to only attend hospitals in the Gwent region if they were “absolutely desperate”. The health board also cut its opening hours at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr minor injuries unit. Read more about that here.
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