INDEPENDENT reviewers are returning to visit Hywel Dda University Health Board staff this week to see how the special care baby service has developed over the last 12 months.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health undertook an expert evaluation of women and children’s services in 2015 following changes made the previous year, and are now going back to speak to service users and staff about developments.

The review considered changes across maternity and paediatric services as well as neonatal services, the latter of which was specific request by the Welsh Government Health Minister.

The report found improved compliances with national and professional service standards and said there was ‘no clinical sense in reversing’ the changes. For neonatal care, it noted improvements had been made to staff numbers as a result of the change and the development of new neonatal outreach nurse team had resulted in short lengths of stay for some babies.

There were 54 recommendations for further improvement and enhancements to services to benefit both staff and patients in the review. For neonatal services this include the need to progress the capital Phase Two project at Glangwili to improve the environment and accommodation for families.

The review team will again consider staff, involvement of parents and families in developments of services, transfers in and out of the unit and areas of good practice or concern. They will speak to a range of staff from the University Health Board, as well a current users.

Anyone who wants to express their views can contact Jenni Illman by emailing invited.reviews@rcpch.ac.uk