Letter to local NHS leadership regarding the suspension of North Devon birthing services

At NCT (National Childbirth Trust), we are deeply concerned about the suspension of birth services in North Devon and what this means for local women, birthing people and parents. Many will now have to travel further from home for labour and birth, and some will no longer be able to access their planned place of birth, including those who had hoped to give birth at home.

Having a choice about where to give birth is a fundamental part of personalised maternity care. Losing that choice can undermine women’s confidence, autonomy and sense of control at one of the most significant moments in their lives. 

We are asking the Trust and the wider NHS system to: 

• Demonstrate how the impact on women, birthing people and parents is being mitigated, particularly for those facing the greatest barriers to care; 
• Provide greater transparency about how this decision was reached and what alternatives were considered; 
• Be open about the steps being taken to restore local birth services, the challenges that remain, and how local expectant and new parents will be kept informed about progress. 

We acknowledge the staffing pressures behind this decision, amid wider pressures on maternity services, and the responsibility of NHS leaders to act when safe staffing cannot be maintained. At the same time, the suspension of a local birth service has significant consequences for women, birthing people and parents, particularly where it affects choice and access to care. We are concerned about the loss of choice this represents and the impact it will have on expectant and new parents across North Devon. 

In a large rural and coastal area like North Devon, longer journeys can bring significant practical, emotional, and financial pressures. People on lower incomes, parents with a disability, younger parents, those living in more remote areas and parents without reliable transport will find the impact particularly difficult. While the Trust has outlined measures to support women and parents, including how to access support with travel costs, we have significant reservations that these arrangements may not fully address the impact on those most affected. The Trust must explain how it assessed the effectiveness of these arrangements and how it will ensure women and parents are not further disadvantaged.  

Women, birthing people and local communities appear to have had limited opportunity to contribute to discussions before this decision was announced. We recognise that more than 300 women and birthing people have recently been contacted about their care. However, given that workforce and maternity service pressures had been identified for some time, the Trust should explain when concerns regarding local birth services were first communicated publicly, how local women were made aware of those concerns, and what opportunities there were for communities to engage before suspension became necessary. 

There should be greater transparency about the discussions and planning that took place before the suspension. This should include how women, birthing people, parents, the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) and community organisations were involved, what alternative options were explored, and how equality considerations informed decision-making. We would also appreciate confirmation of whether an Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken and if this can be made publicly available.  

New and expectant parents also deserve a clear explanation of why suspension became necessary at this point, what alternatives were considered, and whether earlier action could have changed the position. 

The Trust has said that the suspension will be reviewed on a week-by-week basis. Women and parents need greater clarity about what those reviews will consider, what needs to change for births to return to North Devon and how progress will be communicated. We note the forthcoming special meeting to consider the impact of the suspension and believe it is important that women, birthing people and parents have a visible and meaningful role in those discussions. Decisions about the future of local birth services should be informed by the experiences of those affected. 

We ask the Trust to publish the staffing and other conditions that need to be met before local birth services can reopen, and to explain how the public will be kept informed about progress. If there is not yet a clear timetable for reopening, people should be told that honestly. We are calling on the Trust and the wider NHS system to restore local birth services as soon as it is safe to do so, and to set out how they will protect choice and ensure safe maternity care can be provided and sustained locally for people living in North Devon.  

NCT supports thousands of parents every year and is well placed to bring the experiences of women, birthing people, parents and local communities into discussions about the future of maternity care.  

It is important that women and parents are listened to as decisions about what happens next are made. This is vital to maintaining public confidence in local maternity services. We are keen to work with the Trust and wider partners to ensure these voices help shape decisions about the future of maternity care and the reinstatement of local birth services.  

Yours sincerely 

Angela McConville 

Chief Executive, NCT (National Childbirth Trust)