THE midwife-led maternity unit at Llandough Hospital could close if plans outlined in a report by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are given the green light.

Proposals to shut the unit would see all inpatient maternity care moved to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.

Around 400 babies a year are delivered at the six-bed Llandough unit, which opened in 2005.

The plans are detailed in the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s ‘Making a Difference’ document, which outlines how health services will change over the next five years.

A public consultation could be launched into the proposals which, if approved, would see a further 10 beds introduced at UHW to help cope with the closure at Llandough.

The unit could shut by the end of this financial year.

Mothers-to-be in the Vale of Glamorgan, who would normally opt to give birth in Llandough, will then have the choice of delivering their baby at home or at UHW.

The report also proposes that neuro-rehabilitation services move from Rookwood Hospital to Llandough, and that provision be made for stroke rehabilitation services at the hospital.

It is thought that the health board must save £79.3 million this year to break even, and that the expected changes will help reach this target.

The proposals will also help end the duplication of NHS services in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Jan Williams, chief executive for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB), said: “The UHB proposal to transfer the midwifery-led unit at University Hospital Llandough to the University Hospital of Wales needs to be set in the context both of our commitment to maintaining choice for pregnant women, while also tackling the duplication of services across the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff.

“This proposal in no way weakens our commitment to the midwifery-led model of care, and women will continue to have a choice about where to give birth – at home, at UHW in either a midwife-led or consultant-led unit, or at a hospital in a neighbouring health board area.

“Ante-natal and post-natal care will continue to be provided locally and Barry Hospital will have a major role to play in providing this care to mums in the area."

Alun Cairns, MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, met with UHB chiefs this week.

He said: “After just three months of this financial year, local hospitals were £9.3 million over budget. The Assembly Government want to see cuts of 7 per cent. This is unprecedented. “As a result, there are plans to close the maternity unit at Llandough, and I have already received a number of calls expressing concern.

"On the positive side, there are opportunities for Barry and Llandough hospitals," he added.

"Most importantly, there is a proposal to improve Stroke Services across Cardiff and the Vale – there is a desperate need for better provision and this plan is particularly exciting.

"It is proposed that this service will be housed in Llandough. If approved, it could happen by May next year.

"Clearly, many of these changes offer great opportunities for us locally."

Cardiff South and Penarth MP, Alun Michael, whose constituency covers Llandough hospital, met with officials from the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board last week to discuss the plans.

Mr Michael said: “I am encouraged by the fact that this is the first time, in my experience, for over 20 years, that the people leading on the reorganisation of hospital services affecting local people have started by identifying the needs of patients and the services that should be provided – in the past it’s been a case of close things first and think of the future afterwards.

“Change is always unsettling, but on a first reading the proposals offer change for the better across the whole range of NHS services and everyone should take the chance to look at the proposals and comment on the details.”

A SPECIAL meeting of the Cardiff & Vale Community Health Council, that is open to members of the public, will be held next week to discuss the plans. The council will meet on Monday (August 16) in Committee Room 3 at County Hall in Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, from 7pm to 9pm. For more information, and to confirm attendance, call 029 2037 7407.