North Devon Maternity Crisis Reaches Prime Minister

Andy Burnham has been questioned by the Liberal Democrats about North Devon's Maternity Crisis in his very first Prime Minister's Questions.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey asked the new Prime Minister about the “terrifying” travel times facing expectant mothers, called the crisis “unthinkable in our country", and asked the Prime Minister to intervene personally.

Ian Roome MP has led a giant campaign to restore maternity services at North Devon District Hospital, after a staffing crisis led the trust to suspend all births from 11th August, redirecting pregnant mothers to Exeter.

More than 15,000 people have backed Ian's campaign, which has tried to find replacement gynaecology and obstetric consultants to take up the vacant posts in Barnstaple.

The Prime Minister agreed this was “Not acceptable” and promised North Devon's Maternity Unit would reopen, saying the Health Secretary would tackle “structural issues” in NHS maternity across the country.

Ian has appealed for help on TV and national radio, written to more than fifty public bodies and Women, met with doctors & expectant mothers, and demanded answers from Trust senior management.

At time of writing, more than fifty babies have been delivered at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, which has faced increased pressure as a result. North Devon District Hospital is the remotest hospital in mainland England, supporting over 160,000 local people across a vast catchment area covering North Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall.

The Trust has made progress on recruiting replacement locums and consultants, and now expects to re-open maternity services by the end of September.

You can find Ian Roome MP's petition here: Save Our Maternity Services! - Ian Roome MP

North Devon District hospital have published guidance and FAQs here: NHS Royal Devon | Why is this happening?