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WOMEN in Gwent with high risk pregnancies are being sent to hospitals as far afield as Bridgend and Bristol to give birth, due to an ongoing lack of special care baby cots at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

The hospital's special care baby unit, now known as the neo-natal unit, was full over the weekend, with increases in multiple and premature births among the reasons.

Though an occasional space became available yesterday, the situation remained extremely tight.

Hospital managers are continuing four-hour reviews, but capacity may remain an issue for some days yet.

Some expectant mothers whose pregnancies are considered high risk have been admitted to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, while others have had to go to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

The Royal Glamorgan Hospital at Llantrisant, and the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, have also taken cases that would normally be handled in Newport.

Appropriate places have been identified at these hospitals using a regional control centre system designed to help out at times of high demand for hospital beds.

The Royal Gwent's neo-natal unit is part of one of Wales' busiest maternity units and provides range of intensive, special, and high and low dependency care, with capacity for 20 of the Gwent area's most vulnerable newborns.

Through a linked Gwent service it also takes babies from the unit at Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital, which provides short term stabilisation and intensive care prior to transfer to the Royal Gwent.

As well as multiple and premature births, the high risk category can include women with histories of high blood pressure and those who may have experienced difficulties during a previous pregnancy.

Gwent Healthcare Trust is stressing that Royal Gwent is still admitting women with low risk pregnancies.

4:20pm Monday 12th May 2008

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