The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that, despite extensive efforts to maintain services, births at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) will be temporarily suspended from Tuesday 11 August 2026 due to unsafe levels of medical staffing.
At the end of July, the Trust announced that planning had begun for a potential temporary suspension of birthing services. Since then, every available option has been explored, including securing additional locum cover and mutual aid support from partner organisations.
However, 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.
Carolyn Mills, Royal Devon Chief Nursing Officer, said, “This was an exceptionally difficult decision to make. Our absolute priority is, and always will be, the safety of women, birthing people and their babies.
“We have worked tirelessly alongside our partners, including NHS Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and NHS England regional colleagues, to explore every possible option to avoid this outcome. Unfortunately, we have now reached the point where we cannot safely provide the level of medical cover required to continue births at North Devon District Hospital.
“We carefully considered the risks involved. While we recognise the additional travel this will mean for some families, we believe that concentrating services where safe medical staffing can be guaranteed is the safest option for everyone who relies on our maternity services.”
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.
The last planned inductions and c-sections will take place on Friday 7 August and the last day NDDH will be able to accept those in spontaneous labour will be Sunday 9 August.
The Trust 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 people is available – 01271 335773, (9am-5pm, Monday – Friday) and the maternity triage line is available 24/7 for those who require urgent medical advice – 01392 406616.
Alongside managing the temporary suspension, the Trust has already begun work to restore births at North Devon District Hospital as quickly and safely as possible.
Carolyn added: “While this temporary suspension is deeply disappointing to our communities, we are fully committed to reopening birthing services at NDDH as soon as possible.
“A dedicated recovery programme is already underway, with intensive work focused on recruitment, workforce planning, staff retention and service resilience.”
The Trust will continue to keep women, families, staff and local communities informed throughout this period. Regular updates, support information and frequently asked questions are available on the Royal Devon’s North Devon birth services temporary changes webpage.
A comprehensive patient information pack will also be published on Friday 7 August, providing practical guidance, support arrangements and details of ongoing maternity care.
