A 10 per cent increase in the number of NHS midwives working in Gwent has bucked a national trend in recruitment and is good news for the area’s mums-to-be, says the service’s new chief.

Since Gwent Healthcare Trust’s maternity services were put into so-called special measures by the Assembly in May, in a response to fears about safety, more than two dozen new midwives have been recruited.

Addressing a shortfall in the number of midwives was a key aim of a trust action plan drawn up after Assembly health minister Edwina Hart intervened, and Frances Jones, herself newly appointed as head of midwifery, is delighted with the influx.

“The new recruits and are very enthusiastic and committed and with the tremendous experience and innovation of many staff here, there is lots to inspire them, and to aspire to,” she said.

“We now have the equivalent of just over 250 full time midwives and it is acknowledged that across the UK it is difficult to recruit to the service."

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales is monitoring the trust’s efforts at addressing the concerns over maternity services generally, which arose following an investigation by Wales” chief nurse Rosemary Kennedy, and concerns over staff shortfalls. Midwives had also raised concerns with Ms Hart about service restructuring in Gwent.

Concerns over a shortage of midwives were aired shortly before a problem with demand at the Royal Gwent’s neo-natal unit resulted in women with high risk pregnancies being transferred out of the area to give birth because the unit was full.

HIW reported in the summer that the trust was responding well to the problems identified. Mrs Jones said “HIW continues to monitor the service and a final report has yet to be issued.

Another concern raised last spring was over leadership and management and her new role is part of the trust’s response to that.

“I’m keen to see equity of service for pregnant women no matter where they live in Gwent and that relates to every possible aspect of care surrounding their pregnancy and birth," she said.