A new scheme has launched in Wales to provide a direct route to raise concerns about a mother or baby's worsening health.

The Call for Concern scheme will give women, parents and families a clear route to ask for urgent help if they're worried that someone's health is getting worse.

Call for Concern adds to checks already used by hospital staff to spot the signs that a patient's health is deteriorating, including the all-Wales Maternity Early Warning Score and the Neonatal Early Warning Trigger and Track tools. The scheme is similar to Martha’s Rule in England.

It will be introduced across adult, paediatric, maternity and neonatal wards.

Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health Delyth Jewell said: "Families often know when something isn't right, whether that's with a mother or their baby. When they raise concerns, those concerns need to be heard and acted on.

"We want every mother, baby and family in Wales to receive care that is safe and responsive to their needs. Call for Concern gives them a clearer way to speak up and gives staff another way to act early."