Princess of Wales Hospital 12-week Maternity Unit Closure
05.08.2024
On Monday 2nd September, the maternity and neonatal units at Princess of Wales Hospital (POW) within Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) University Health Board will close for 12 weeks to allow urgent and essential refurbishment work to take place.
During this time, women and birthing people from the CTM area will have the option to choose to deliver their babies at the University Hospital of Wales, Singleton Hospital in Swansea, or Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. Tirion Birth Centre, the free-standing midwifery unit at Royal Glamorgan Hospital is also available. Those planning to have an elective caesarean birth within CTM will continue to receive their care at Prince Charles Hospital.
If you are currently pregnant and your baby is due during this period, you are encouraged to confirm your choice of unit with your community midwife by the time you reach 36 weeks. This ensures the receiving unit is aware and that clinical notes can be transferred appropriately.
You can change your mind at any time, except if you are in active labour. Please make your community midwife aware if you wish to change your choice of unit.
The maternity unit at the University Hospital of Wales is preparing to accommodate an additional 40 to 70 births per month during the 12-week period. Additional colleagues from the maternity service in CTM will be relocated to Cardiff to ensure the unit is appropriately and safely staffed.
If you are currently under the care of CTM there will be no change to your current arrangements for antenatal and postnatal care provided by your community midwife and team. None of these appointments will be moved to Cardiff.
If you are under the care of Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board, your care and treatment will continue as normal, and you will not be affected by the temporary closure at Princess of Wales Hospital. If you live in the Vale of Glamorgan and have chosen to give birth at the Princess of Wales, you will be able to choose your choice of unit.
For updates from the CAV Maternity Service, including advice and support, information about upcoming tours of the Midwife-Led Unit and birth stories, you can follow their Facebook page and Instagram page.