New 'Bloom' midwifery service to support families

A new specialist midwifery service in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, aimed at supporting women and pregnant people with complex social needs, is set to launch in Bridgend this spring.

The Bloom service will provide dedicated, continuity-based care for families facing significant challenges, including mental health issues, domestic abuse, substance misuse, and late engagement with maternity services.

The new community-based team will offer more intensive and personalised support than standard maternity care. Appointments will be longer and often delivered at home or in accessible community settings to help build trust and improve engagement.

The Bloom team will also work closely with a range of partner services, including safeguarding teams, mental health specialists, and local authority programmes, ensuring a coordinated and holistic approach to care.

Suzanne Hardacre, Director of Midwifery at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said: “This new initiative responds to growing need, with 15.3% of pregnant people in our communities identified as having vulnerabilities over the past year.

“Evidence shows that continuity of care from a dedicated midwifery team leads to better physical and mental health outcomes, as well as improved safeguarding results for families.”

The service will initially be piloted in Bridgend, with the intention of being rolled out across the health board area if successful.

01/05/2026