Birthing services at North Devon District Hospital continue to be suspended following the trust's latest readiness assessment, with expectant mothers forced to travel 53 miles to Exeter to give birth.
The maternity unit has been closed since 11 August 2026 due to staffing shortages, leaving pregnant women in Barnstaple and surrounding areas facing significant disruption. The Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust stated it remained "committed to reopening birthing services at NDDH as soon as possible" and was continuing efforts to "recruit both temporary and substantive staff".
During the ongoing suspension, all existing support arrangements remain in place for pregnant women and birthing people, the trust confirmed.
Why was the service suspended?
The trust began planning for a potential temporary closure in July 2026 after identifying serious staffing issues. In early August, after exploring all available options including locum cover and mutual aid from partner organisations, leaders concluded that a temporary suspension was the best course of action to ensure patient safety.
A provisional reopening date of 29 September was initially set, but the trust later determined the service was not ready to resume by that date. According to the trust's 2 October update, a 28 September assessment found that birthing services still could not reopen, with new staff continuing to complete induction and competency checks and consultant vacancies remaining.
What support is being provided?
Additional clinical, financial and travel support has been put in place to assist women during pregnancy. This includes extra appointments, accommodation expenses and access to free taxis for those travelling to Exeter. Women are advised to contact maternity triage on 01392 406616 early if they believe they may be in labour or have urgent concerns.
By 2 October, 164 women and birthing people from North Devon had given birth at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, with the trust reporting no confirmed safety incidents directly related to the suspension. An earlier Devon County Council committee report indicated that 106 births had taken place at the Exeter hospital by 15 September, with fewer than five occurring outside labour and delivery environments and a healthcare professional present at every birth.
What improvements are being made during the closure?
The trust is using the suspension period to carry out planned improvements to the Ladywell maternity unit, including paintwork and building work, according to local reporting. These enhancements are intended to improve the facility when services eventually resume.
When could services reopen?
The trust stated that
Patient safety remains the overriding priority; staffing, induction, rotas and operational arrangements must all be fully assured before reopening.
The reopening model requires two connected medical rotas to provide 24-hour cover, with at least 75% of each rota filled by permanently employed staff. Once the trust meets its readiness assessment criteria, birthing services can reopen two weeks later.
The trust's 2 October update scheduled its next readiness assessment for 12 October 2026, with a further update to follow. The hospital serves north Devon and part of north-east Cornwall, making the extended closure a significant issue for the region's maternity care.
Key Facts
- North Devon District Hospital's maternity unit has been closed since 11 August 2026 due to staffing shortages
- Pregnant women from Barnstaple now face a 53-mile journey to Exeter to give birth
- By early October, over 160 women from the area had safely given birth at the Exeter hospital with no confirmed safety incidents related to the suspension
- The trust is conducting readiness assessments to determine when services can safely resume, with the next assessment scheduled for 12 October
- Financial and travel support, including free taxis and accommodation expenses, is available to pregnant women during the suspension
