Doctors at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) in Barnstaple have received a “crash course” in birth emergencies. This training follows the indefinite suspension of the hospital's maternity service, which began on Tuesday, due to staff shortages.
The closure means many pregnant women now face journeys of at least an hour and a half to reach a hospital in Exeter when they go into labour. A doctor at NDDH stated that emergency staff have been trained to handle difficult births if mothers are unable to get to Exeter.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS foundation trust has described the suspension as temporary but has not provided a date for when maternity services at NDDH may resume. A special Devon county council meeting is scheduled later this month to discuss the closure.