Work on a £6.5m upgrade to maternity and neonatal services is set to begin at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

But the expansion plans mean some mums could face having their babies elsewhere while the work is being undertaken.

The refurbishment will see an expansion of the neonatal unit to add nine extra cots for preamture or sick babies, a second operating theatre and more birthing rooms to the site on Gurnos Road.

Prince Charles Hospital
Prince Charles Hospital is about to undergo a refurbishment

A designated bereavement suite, known as the Snowdrop Suite, will also be redeveloped, and the existing maternity operating theatre refurbished as part of the plans.

The expansion means Cwn Taf University Health Board will be able to care for more premature and sick babies with more of the latest equipment.

Work is set to start on June 12 and is due to be completed in March 2018 and while work is taking place, maternity services will temporarily relocate to the ground floor of the hospital, with the operating theatre and recovery area on the first floor.

Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil
As part of the plans the maternity and neonatal units will be expanded

But some mums could face being told to have their babies at a nearby hospital to ease congestion.

The hospital say to ease additional impact on the main theatre some mums-to-be might be advised to have their baby in the maternity unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, but this will be discussed on a one-to-one basis.

In addition, partners at both Prince Charles and the Royal Glamorgan Hospitals will only be given the option to stay overnight in exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the midwife in charge of the unit in response to feedback from staff and patients.

Royal Glamorgan Hospital near Llantrisant.
Mums could be asked to go to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital near Llantrisant instead

Rachel Fielding, Head of Midwifery and Head of Nursing for Paediatrics and Neonates, said: “This is a really exciting time for us. All the changes to our maternity and neonatal services, including the refurbishment taking place over the next nine months, will help us to deliver the best possible care and develop services which are truly fit for the future and better serve the population of Cwm Taf.”