Standard birthing services at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) in Barnstaple have been suspended by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The trust stated this was the "only safe course of action" due to staffing issues, despite "extensive efforts" to maintain services.
The trust began planning for a potential temporary suspension in July due to serious staffing issues. By early August, it concluded a temporary suspension was the best solution after exploring options such as locum cover and mutual aid support.
More than 300 women who are 34 weeks pregnant or more, along with those identified as vulnerable or clinically high-risk, have been contacted by the trust. Some pregnant women in north Devon could face journeys of over an hour to give birth, with some remote areas being a two-hour drive from Exeter.
Devon County Council's Health and Adult Care Committee is scheduled to discuss the closure on Monday 17 August. Chief medical officer Dr Vanessa Purday said fears the unit would not reopen were unfounded, stating the priority is to reopen safely and sustainably as soon as possible.