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Maternity Unit Reopening After Staff Shortage Closure
1 Sep
Summary
- Maternity unit closure due to insufficient medical staff occurred in August.
- The unit is provisionally set to reopen on September 29.
- Women travelled 53 miles to Exeter during the closure period.
The maternity unit at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, which temporarily suspended services in August due to critical staffing shortages, has a provisional reopening date of September 29. The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reported positive progress in recruiting the necessary medical staff. This closure meant expectant mothers had to travel 53 miles (85km) to Exeter to give birth.
The trust will conduct a final review on September 14 to confirm adequate staffing, skills, and safety compliance before a formal reopening decision. The suspension was necessary as of August 11 due to insufficient consultant and medical cover for safe delivery. Chief medical officer Dr Vanessa Purday acknowledged the disruption and anxiety caused, expressing gratitude for public patience.
She highlighted the reopening as a significant step toward restoring local services and ensuring patient safety. Over 50 babies have been delivered in Exeter since the closure began. The decision to suspend services led to the resignation of the trust's medical director, Dr Karen Davies, who cited unaddressed concerns over the preceding two years.
