What plans are in progress to establish a mother and baby unit to provide perinatal mental health services in north Wales?
Discussions are ongoing with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Whilst the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) as the commissioner of the current service has had a number of conversations with NHS England, no firm arrangements for procurement of beds for people living in North Wales have been agreed to date. The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team in North Wales are involved in developing plans for a local model for assessment and transfer to a specialist bed either in NHS Wales or England as required. A paper with the various options and outlined costs went to the WHSSC Joint Committee on 13 November.
WHSSC has been asked to provide an update following the Joint Committee. I shall provide a further update on the provision of mother and baby units to the Children, Young People and Education Committee in January 2019.