Maternity unit stays suspended after latest review

Birthing services at a hospital maternity unit are to remain closed following a readiness assessment by its trust, it has confirmed.

The services at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) have been suspended since 11 August because of staff shortages raising safety concerns.

Checks were carried out by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on Monday, which said the next assessment was due to take place on Monday 9 November.

Women are being asked to continue to "follow their personalised birth plans on the basis of giving birth at the RD&E [Royal Devon & Exeter] or their next nearest hospital".

The suspension at the hospital, which serves north Devon and part of north-east Cornwall, has meant pregnant mothers in the Barnstaple area alone have been facing a 53-mile (85km) trip to Exeter to give birth.

In an update on it website, the hospital said: "We remain committed to reopening birthing services at NDDH as soon as possible.

"We are continuing in our efforts to recruit both temporary and substantive staff.

"We've formally requested support from the wider NHS and we're looking internationally to strengthen our approach to substantive recruitment."

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