North Devon District Hospital suspends maternity services due to staffing shortages

Maternity services at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple are being suspended due to "unsafe levels of medical staffing." Starting Tuesday, the hospital will no longer accept women in spontaneous labour.

Expectant mothers in the rural North Devon area will now be required to travel to maternity units in Exeter or Taunton, which are at least 90 minutes away. Local residents have expressed significant concern regarding the safety of these long journeys, particularly for those with histories of obstetric emergencies or those living in remote areas where travel times may be extended by traffic.