Maternity services are being reviewed 'urgently'

Neath Port Talbot Hospital in Baglan, which cost �64m to build and opened in November 2002, has had to temporarily close its maternity unit a few times because of the shortage.

Now expectant mothers in the region could be sent to Singleton Hospital in Swansea or the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

Members of the Neath Port Talbot local health board have been discussing the problem during a meeting on Thursday afternoon.

A report before the committee recognised there had been "major operational difficulties in sustaining local obstetrics", which had lead to the unit's closure on a number of occasions.

The hospital opened less than a year ago

It said changes in junior doctors' hours and the impact of the European Working Time Directive meant pressures on staffing were likely to get worse.

An urgent review of maternity services was needed, the report concluded.

The board is now planning to carry out a consultation exercise to get the public's views on any changes.

The news comes just days after accident and emergency services at the nearby Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli were also scaled down because of staff shortages.

After 2000 BST, some admissions are being transferred to nearby hospitals, prompting fears that lives could be lost.

Protesters held a vigil outside the hospital in an attempt to keep it open.