Pregnant women in North Devon are being offered classes on how to give birth in a vehicle due to the closure of a local maternity ward. The North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) in Barnstaple suspended its birthing services on August 11, citing safety concerns stemming from a lack of consultants and registrars.
This closure has forced expectant mothers to travel nearly two hours to The Royal Devon and Exeter hospital for births. Approximately 300 women who are at least 34 weeks pregnant or are considered high-risk have been contacted to arrange alternative birth plans. Triage appointments, designed to monitor the well-being of mothers and babies when complications are suspected, have also been halted. There has been no update on when the hospital's birthing services will be reinstated.
In response to the extended travel distance and potential for rapid labor progression, couples are receiving specialized classes. These sessions include contingency planning for scenarios where a birth may occur before reaching a hospital, potentially on the roadside or motorway hard shoulder. The training covers essential preparations such as having blankets, towels, water, and charged phones readily accessible, as well as birthing positions that can mitigate the effects of gravity during transit.
Catherine Mchomvu, who conducts these classes at the Devon Antenatal Family Centre CIC in Barnstaple, stated that it is crucial to be realistic about the situation, acknowledging the potential for high-risk scenarios. She noted that midwives are also attempting to prepare women for these eventualities.
This situation follows a June report by Baroness Valerie Amos into NHS maternity services, which detailed numerous failings in maternity and postnatal care. One expectant mother shared her concerns on Facebook after a birth plan meeting, expressing fear about the focus on preparing her husband to deliver the baby roadside.
A petition initiated by local Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome, calling for improved maternity support in north Devon, has garnered over 15,000 signatures. Roome has voiced concerns that the trust has neglected recruitment efforts, predicting that births may occur in laybys and potentially lead to fatalities.
Louise Pamment, a local resident and mentor, has launched an Instagram campaign to encourage medical staff to apply for positions in the area, citing the fear and distress she has witnessed among pregnant women.
A spokesperson for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust stated that the care of women remains their priority and that they are committed to individual support. The trust advises anyone experiencing labor or pregnancy concerns to contact their maternity triage service immediately. In cases where a birth is imminent and the hospital is not nearby, the public is instructed to call emergency services.
The trust has updated its guidance and clinical pathways to accommodate the temporary service changes and has ensured that staff and facilities at The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital are prepared for additional births.