Prime Minister commits to reopening of North Devon maternity unit
He described the current situation where women are having to travel up to two hours to give birth following the closure three weeks ago “unacceptable”
Andy Burnham has committed to reopening North Devon District Hospital’s maternity unit during his first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
The new PM described the current situation where women are having to travel up to two hours to give birth following the closure three weeks ago “unacceptable”.
He was quizzed by leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey who said: “When my kids were born I cannot imagine the extra stress and anxiety that would have caused us. Women are even being taught how to give birth in their cars. This should be unthinkable in our country.”
“So will the prime minister commit to reopening North Devon’s maternity unit in days not weeks and we stop maternity units closing across the country so expectant mums never have to face such terrifying distances,” he said.
Mr Burnham responded saying: “Let me give a direct answer, I will commit to reopening, but not within days, I don’t think I am in a position to make that commitment today.
“I am in agreement with him, that it is not acceptable for people living in the North Devon area to have to travel that far.
“Let me take that away and let me also say to him, with honesty, there are structural issues here affecting maternity services across the UK. This is not the only hospital where there have been difficulties, I am aware from my former time as secretary of state for health that there have been long standing shortages of midwives across the country and I believe it is right that we look at all those issues.
“I can give him my guarantee that my right honourable friend, the health secretary, is looking at those issues following the recent maternity reviews we have had.”
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust closed the Ladywell Unit at NDDH on August 11 due a shortage of consultant obstetricians and registrars saying it was unsafe to allow births there.
In a statement on Tuesday the trust gave a provisional date for reopening as Tuesday September 29 subject to having the skill mix needed, final checks on staffing rotas and meeting essential safety criteria.
It said it had made “positive progress” in recruiting the medical staff needed to safely reopen.
Dr Vanessa Purday, the trust’s chief medical officer, said: “We fully recognise the disruption and anxiety caused by the temporary suspension and we are grateful to women and birthing people, their families, colleagues and partners for their patience and support.
“This is an important step forward towards restoring services closer to home and being assured of patient safety and continuity of care. We hope this provides certainty for our colleagues who work in those services, for women, birthing people and their families and the communities that rely on these services.”
The decision to temporarily close the unit was met with public outrage and raised concerns over the fragility of the hospital and its services and “centralisation” of services to Exeter.
Women who had been booked to have their babies in the Barnstaple hospital were told they had to attend other units in Exeter or Taunton and feared they would give birth on the North Devon Link Road.
The trust said last week more than 50 babies had been born with no arrivals during the journey.
Private classes were offered on how to give birth in a car – not by the trust but by independent companies.
Devon County Council has written to the health secretary expressing its concern over the suspension and has asked for an impact assessment, a lessons learned review and fragile services report from the trust after grilling health bosses for hours at a recent health scrutiny meeting
North Devon councillor Pru Maskell (Con, Braunton West and Georgeham) is encouraging people to sign her petition calling for an independent inquiry into the decision and the wider impact of the merger with the RD&E on healthcare provision and health inequalities.
She raised concerns following the resignation of medical director of the trust Dr Karen Davies who stepped down over the handling of the maternity crisis.
Dr Davies said she had warned senior leaders about the staff shortages for two years but they had not been acted on.