County leaders demand North Devon maternity unit reopens permanently

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 14:38 · Archive

County leaders are demanding that North Devon District Hospital's maternity unit, closed since August due to staffing shortages, be reopened and kept open.

North Devon District Hospital's maternity unit has been closed to births since August 11 because of staffing shortages. Nearly 200 women from the area have had to give birth at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital instead, with some facing journeys of up to two hours.

County leaders have demanded that Health Secretary Yvette Cooper guarantee the unit will reopen and remain open. The calls follow warnings from Matthew Hopkins, director of the NHS Alliance's acute and ambulance network, that smaller maternity units delivering fewer than 2,000 babies a year could face permanent closure as services are concentrated in fewer hospitals.

Cllr Jess Bailey, chair of Devon County Council's health scrutiny committee, said closing units is not the answer to staffing difficulties. "Closing units entirely is not the answer to staffing difficulties, proper funding is the solution," she said. "Women have the right to give birth safely and close to where they live – whether that's in Devon or anywhere else." She also criticised the Health Secretary's lack of response to three letters requesting government intervention to reopen the unit.

How it is being reported

• Fury as national NHS boss says maternity units such as Barnstaple should closeComments by NHS Alliance boss that smaller maternity units should close and services be centralised have been met with anger in North Devon…North Devon Gazette · 19 Oct, 13:55
• County leaders demand North Devon maternity unit reopens and stays openCounty leaders have demanded a guarantee that a maternity unit will reopen and stay open after warnings that up to 20 smaller hospital maternity services could face permanent closure.Exmouth Journal · 19 Oct, 13:06

In this story: North Devon District Hospital · Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital · Yvette Cooper · Matthew Hopkins · North Devon · Devon County Council

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