Mothers fear deaths if maternity unit stays closed

A mother has said she "would have died" if she had to travel outside the north Devon area to give birth.

Hundreds of people came together at The Square in Barnstaple town centre to protest the temporary closure of birthing services at North Devon District Hospital, which the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said was due to staffing issues.

Expectant mothers said the decision meant they faced longer travel times to get to hospital, with the nearest maternity services located in Exeter and Taunton. The National Childbirth Trust said it was "deeply concerned" by the closure.

The trust said it shared "the determination of those demonstrating to see these services restored".

Sarah Henshall, who gave birth at the hospital in Barnstaple and was at the protest.

She said: "If I had given birth during the current maternity unit closure, it would have resulted in me giving birth on the way to Exeter, and me and my daughter would have died."

Phoebe Hawkins said she "wouldn't have wanted to have made a fuss" but said the convenience of triage services at Barnstaple during her two pregnancies "saved my babies' lives".

Expectant mother Hannah Rulton said she was planning for a cesarean section.

She added: "However, if I go into labour any earlier, we are then faced with the hour-and-40-minute drive down to Exeter."

Sophie Golding said: "Our local hospital should try and help make those moments as good and as supportive as they can be and, by taking away our maternity ward, it's scaring a lot of mums and the community for them."

The trust said it understood the reasons behind the protest and "the strength of feeling being expressed" about the temporary suspension.

"These services matter enormously to local families, communities and our colleagues, and like everyone, we want to see births return to North Devon District Hospital as quickly and safely as possible," it said.

The trust said it would continue to keep women, families, staff and local communities informed and that a dedicated recovery programme was under way with intensive work focusing on recruitment.

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