There is absolutely no evidence to say the changes are unsafe, and I really do regret the manner in which this debate is approached, because people are unnecessarily worried and concerned when elected representatives say that services are unsafe or are dangerous. That is deeply unhelpful. There is simply no evidence to support the assertion that the Member has made in this Chamber and in press comments locally. In fact, what we do have as an evidential base is the fact that there has been no clinical harm to any baby or mother who has delivered their child under the new arrangements. In fact, 210 women have presented to Withybush midwifery-led unit since it has been opened. Three quarters of them have delivered safely within the midwifery-led unit. A quarter have been transferred for safe delivery to Glangwili, and, in fact, the same proportion have delivered home births as well.

This is a successful system delivering quality care to women and their children, and that is what we want. We need to invest in and respect the professionalism of midwives and the job that they do. We need to make sure that specific, specialist services are provided on a model that is sustainable and delivers the quality of care that people need. Now, that is my commitment to the people of Pembrokeshire, and right across Wales. If the evidence changes, then we’ll look again at the system that we are delivering and at the quality of care being provided, but, at this point in time, there is zero evidence of clinical harm as a result of the changes that we have made, and I’m proud that we have made changes based on evidence and that people are receiving a better service as a result.