Families across Wales are being given a new way to raise urgent concerns if they believe a mother or baby's health is getting worse while in hospital.

Call for Concern is being introduced in hospitals across Wales and gives women, parents and families a clear route to request an urgent clinical review.

The Welsh Government says families are often among the first to notice a change in someone's condition — whether a mother is becoming increasingly unwell or a baby is behaving differently.

The scheme has two parts: recording how a patient is feeling and providing a clear process for patients and families to ask for further medical assessment.

It builds on existing systems already used by hospital staff to identify when patients may be deteriorating, including the all-Wales Maternity Early Warning Score and neonatal early warning tools.

Call for Concern is similar to Martha's Rule, which has been introduced in England, and Ryan's Rule in Australia.

The scheme is being introduced across adult, children's, maternity and neonatal wards in Welsh hospitals.

Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women's Health Delyth Jewell said families often know when something isn't right and that their concerns need to be heard and acted on.

She said the aim was to ensure every mother, baby and family in Wales receives care that is safe and responsive to their needs.