North Devon district hospital in Barnstaple halted maternity services for women in spontaneous labour, citing unsafe levels of medical staffing. The suspension took effect following the hospital’s last day accepting women in labour, requiring expectant mothers to travel to facilities in Exeter or Taunton—distances of at least an hour and a half away, often extending longer during peak travel periods.
The staffing crisis stems from multiple factors including staff departures, maternity leave, sickness absences, and difficulty securing locum physicians on short notice. The trust reported consultant maternity rotas operating at 50% below capacity and registrar-level positions 40% short. While the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust indicated it would restart services when safe staffing levels could be guaranteed, no timeframe for resumption was provided. Other services including community midwifery, scans, and antenatal clinics remain operational, though face-to-face triage was suspended.
Expectant mothers have expressed significant concern about the risks posed by extended travel times during labour, particularly those with medical histories suggesting rapid deliveries or complications. Some families indicated they were considering relocating temporarily to areas closer to alternative maternity facilities to mitigate risks. Nearly 15,000 people signed a petition initiated by the local Liberal Democrat MP opposing the suspension.
The situation reflects broader workforce pressures affecting obstetric services nationwide. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists stated that staffing gaps exist on nearly every obstetric rota across the country, calling for urgent investment in maternity workforce development to ensure safe staffing levels and quality care provision.
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