Hospital closes maternity unit due to senior doctor shortage

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By Daniel Pye

A district hospital has temporarily closed its maternity unit due to an “unsafe” shortage of senior doctors.

North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple has suspended birthing services at the hospital from 11 August as it cannot guarantee women would consistently have access to senior medical support during labour.

Vanessa Purday, chief medical officer for Royal Devon University Hospital Foundation Trust said the board was “extremely concerned” at the level of medical provision for its perinatal maternity services.

The trust said it is about 50% short of consultants and 40% short of "tier 2 doctors", who are generally experienced resident doctors and other senior doctors.

A review made clear that the hospital has been reliant on locum and agency cover for some time and additional staffing shortages and absence “have tipped the balance into it being unsafe to continue”.

Royal Devon University Hospital Foundation Trust Board has said women will not be able to give birth, have a C-section, be induced or attend the triage or day assessment unit.