Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar AM has praised staff at Glan Clwyd’s neonatal unit following a recent visit to the facility.

The Clwyd West AM was given a tour of the unit, which last year dealt with 337 admissions.

Darren said:

"This is a very busy unit at Glan Clwyd with a team of 50 nursing staff who cover the unit 24/7.

"Last year the staff carried out 570 days of intensive care, 817 days of high dependency care and 2,990 days of special care.　

"With uncertainty over the future of neonatal intensive care services in north Wales and with record breaking health budget cuts it has been a very challenging time for health service staff, but they remain dedicated to their roles and are doing an absolutely tremendous job."

In April First Minister Carwyn Jones announced a review into how the NHS provides specialist care for the sickest and most premature babies in north Wales, following Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s (BCUHB) controversial proposals to move neonatal intensive care to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health will report later this month.

Darren added:

"We desperately need to improve neonatal services in Wales. Uncertainty has persisted for far too long and reports have shown that babies are put at unnecessary risk as a result of the lack of adequate investment by the Welsh Government. But moving neonatal intensive care services across the border to England is not the answer.　

"Every time I see the fantastic work that is going on at Glan Clwyd’s neonatal unit it makes me all the more determined to see these services retained in North Wales." 　　

Picture Caption: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with Paula Knight, Clinical Director, Dr Ian Barnard, Consultant Paediatrician, Mandy Cooke, Unit Manager and staff nurses Lynda Davies and Helen Parry