Medical negligence experts at Switalskis say the temporary suspension of births at a Devon hospital is a further sign of the escalating crisis in NHS maternity services which needs urgent government attention.

The comments from our maternity negligence and birth injury specialists followed the news that the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was suspending birth services at the North Devon District Hospital until further notice due to ‘unsafe levels of medical staffing’.

In a statement issued by the Trust , it said it had been unable to secure additional locum cover or help from partner organisations to keep birth services operating at the North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple.

“After exhausting all available avenues and carefully reviewing staffing levels against clinical safety requirements, the Trust has concluded that a temporary suspension is the only safe course of action,” the statement said.

“The temporary suspension affects births and face-to-face triage only. Other services, including community midwifery, scans, birth planning, ultrasound clinics and antenatal outpatient clinics, will remain in Northern Devon.”

Subsequent reports in the Guardian newspaper revealed that the closure would lead to some mothers, who should have given birth at North Devon District Hospital, facing journeys of up to two hours to their next-nearest maternity unit, sparking fears for their safety while the suspension continues.

‘Another sign of the huge challenges facing NHS maternity services’: our expert view

The news is the latest damaging revelation for maternity services in England and comes just weeks after highly critical reports were published on maternity care.

Firstly, senior midwife Donna Ockenden’s long-running inquiry into failures in care at Nottingham University Hospitals’ (NUH) NHS Trust’s two maternity units in the city at Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital raised a series of concerns over standards . The report followed years of campaigning from families affected by maternity negligence, baby loss and birth injuries, including families supported by medical negligence experts at Switalskis.

Just days after the Ockenden report, the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, led by Baroness Amos, published its findings into maternity negligence and failings at 12 other Trusts. Experts from Switalskis, which is supporting dozens of families who have suffered harm or loss at a number of the 12 Trusts investigated, backed the Baroness’ calls for a national maternity commissioner to be appointed .

Among a series of recommendations, Baroness Amos also concluded that NHS birth services were “no longer designed for the maternity and neonatal needs of today or the future."

Ms Ockenden has still to open her inquiry into failings in maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s two maternity units: Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital. Again, a number of local families, including some supported by our birth injury and baby loss experts, have campaigned for the inquiry, the terms of reference for which are expected to be announced in due course.

Now, in light of further worrying news from Devon, David Thomas , medical negligence lawyer from Switalskis, who specialises in birth injury, child brain injury, baby loss and maternity negligence cases, said: “It’s incredibly concerning to hear that some women could face journeys of as long as two hours to give birth. Clearly, that increases the risk of mothers and babies suffering complications.

“This is yet another sign of the huge challenges facing NHS maternity services. Coming so soon after the worrying reports from Donna Ockenden in relation to Nottingham, her upcoming inquiry into maternity services in Leeds, and Baroness Amos’ investigation into 12 other Trusts, it is clear that services are under extreme pressure.

“The government needs to act and act with urgency. Women and babies deserve to have confidence in the maternity services they rely on – not just in Devon, Nottingham, Leeds or the other Trusts being investigated but right across the NHS.

“We will continue to support the families who rely on our experts, all of who are determined to highlight the failings in their care in the hope that this brings about the necessary improvements in services and helps ensure other families do not suffer in the future.”

Helpline set up for families affected by suspension of services at North Devon District Hospital

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust says it has contacted over 300 women and birthing people who are 34 weeks pregnant or more, as well as those identified as vulnerable or clinically high risk, to discuss their individual circumstances, care plans and the travel and transport support available.

A dedicated helpline for pregnant women and birthing partners has been made available. The number is 01271 335773 (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday), and the maternity triage line is available 24/7 for those who require urgent medical advice: 01392 406616 .

Specialist maternity solicitors supporting families – how we can help

Our specialist birth injury, baby loss and medical negligence solicitors support many families affected by harm or bereavement at maternity units across the NHS, including the 12 Trusts covered by the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, which are:

• Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs maternity services through Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
• Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the maternity unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which has a maternity unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary
• East Kent Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, which has two maternity units: the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate
• Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, which operates maternity services from the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
• Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which has a maternity unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital as well as other centres including the Oxford Spires Midwifery-led Unit, Cotswold Birth Centre, Horton Midwifery-led Unit, Wallingford Maternity and Birthing Centre and the Wantage Maternity Unit
• Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which has a maternity unit at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
• The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, which has three units at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital in Melton Mowbray
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, where maternity services operate from three sites: the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, the South Lakes Birth Centre at Furness General Hospital and Helme Chase at Westmorland General Hospital
• University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which has consultant obstetric-led units at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, as well as midwife-led units in Chichester, Eastbourne and Crowborough.