The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust suspended birthing services at North Devon District Hospital starting August 11, 2026, due to severe medical staffing shortages. The closure forces pregnant women to travel over 50 miles to Exeter, prompting emergency department doctors in Barnstaple to undergo a crash course in managing obstetric emergencies. While the trust has launched a recovery plan to recruit staff and reopen the unit, local leaders and the UNISON union warn that extended travel times on congested rural roads pose serious risks to mothers and strain ambulance resources.
North Devon maternity unit closure
- ▪The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust suspended birthing services at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple starting Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
- ▪The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust contacted more than 300 women who were at least 34 weeks pregnant, vulnerable, or clinically high-risk regarding the suspension.
NHS staffing shortages
- ▪The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust suspended the North Devon District Hospital birthing services due to medical staffing shortages that prevented running a safe service.
- ▪The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust stated it attempted to recruit extra consultants and doctors but was unable to hire enough to maintain safe staffing levels.
Emergency obstetric training
- ▪Emergency department staff at North Devon District Hospital received a crash course in managing obstetric emergencies, such as shoulder dystocia, postpartum haemorrhage, and neonatal collapse.
- ▪The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust collaborated with urgent care, maternity, and South Western Ambulance Service colleagues to establish clinical pathways for emergency presentations.
Extended travel for pregnant women
- ▪Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil criticized the closure, noting some remote areas are a two-hour drive from Exeter and calling the situation second-rate NHS provision.
- ▪Pregnant women in North Devon face traveling over 50 miles to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, a journey taking at least 90 minutes on congested summer roads.
Ambulance service capacity concerns
- ▪The labor union UNISON expressed serious concerns that transferring North Devon maternity patients to Exeter adds critical travel time when minutes matter and increases pressure on ambulance crews.
- ▪UNISON stated that ambulance crews from North Cornwall are regularly redeployed to assist North Devon, creating a ripple effect on response times across the wider region.
Service reopening recovery plans
- ▪Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vanessa Purday stated that fears the North Devon maternity unit would remain closed permanently are unfounded, committing to a safe and sustainable reopening.
- ▪The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust initiated a recovery programme focused on recruitment, workforce planning, staff retention, and service resilience to reopen the unit.
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