A ‘short-term workforce challenge’ means that Nevill?Hall Hospital will be unable to full paediatric rotas between Christmas and the New Year with many services being transferred to the Royal Gwent Hospital.

In a letter to Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams, the chief executive of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Judith Paget admitted that there would be a ‘number of gaps in the rota’ until January 4.

She explained that since transferring paediatric trainees to the Royal Gwent Hospital earlier this year Nevill Hall’s paediatric and neo-natal service has been staffed with ‘a non training grade medical workforce.

Ms Paget said that due to a ‘number of factors’ including sickness and the unavailability of two long term agency locums the service would not be fully staffed.

This will mean that from December 24 for seven days:

• Paediatric GP calls will be redirected to Royal Gwent Hospital for 7 days from 24th December

• Maternity Services at Nevill Hall Hospital will deliver only babies over 36 weeks

• All babies under 36 weeks will be transferred to the Royal Gwent.

Ms Paget stressed that all emergency paediatric services would be maintained at both Nevill Hall and the Royal Gwent.

“We have continued to make every effort to fill the remaining gaps in the rota and monitor the situation closely...however it is unlikely we will secure any further locums,” she said, adding that the workforce issues were ‘short term’ and that a fully staffed rota would be in place from January 4.

Commenting on the situation Kirsty Williams said, “The news that paediatric rotas are not going to be able to be filled in Abergavenny this Christmas period is very distressing.

“Clearly the Welsh Labour Government’s recruitment and retention of doctors strategy is not working. Health professionals in the area also frequently telling me that the Government’s dithering over the new Specialist and Critical Care Centre in Llanfrechfa is also having a major impact.

“I will be taking this up with the Health Minister at the earliest opportunity, when the assembly returns in the new year, to ensure that these temporary measures do not become the norm.

“In the meantime, I hope that ABU Health board will be providing as much information as possible to expectant mothers so they are aware of these changes.”