MP raises concerns over pressure on Exeter maternity services
The MP for Honiton and Sidmouth raised his concerns during a parliamentary debate last week
Richard Foord, MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, raised concerns in Parliament about a potential increase in pressure on Exeter’s maternity services following the temporary suspension of births in Barnstaple.
Mr Foord spoke at a debate secured by Ian Roome, MP for North Devon, in the House of Commons on Thursday, October 22.
Births at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple have been suspended since August 11 due to “unsafe levels of medical staffing”, according to One Devon.
It is understood that maternity staff from Barnstaple have been redeployed to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter in the meantime.
During last week’s debate, Mr Foord told MPs that one of his constituents had informed him the labour ward in Exeter “has only ten birthing rooms”.
Mr Foord went on to say: “A constituent of mine who visited the maternity ward at Exeter hospital heard that the staff temporarily redeployed there from Barnstaple are having to pay the full car parking charge of £20 per day while they are doing the additional service of traveling to Exeter”.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which oversees both hospitals in Exeter and Barnstaple, has said that “travel support arrangements are in place for staff, including a dedicated daily shuttle between Barnstaple and Exeter”.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: “Our staff are not expected to pay for parking in the patient car park while they are travelling to Exeter to support patient care during the temporary suspension of birthing services.
“A small number of staff have chosen to travel independently to Exeter. They can obtain a permit to use our transient parking spaces which are designed for staff who have to travel as part of their role. Eligible parking costs can be reclaimed through the expenses process.
They added: “This travel takes place within their working hours, so staff do not have a longer working day as a result.”
It is understood Mr Foord wrote to the Health Secretary in August, alongside other MPs from Devon and Dorset, to ask whether Exeter’s maternity unit had the staff and beds to cope.
During the debate, he said: “Many women in Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Sidmouth and Cullompton have given birth in Exeter. Since August, that labour ward has also been caring for pregnant women from North Devon.”
The Trust has said it has increased the size of the maternity unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter through converting its Hollybrook Ward into additional space.
“The unit has 12 additional beds, additional labour ward and antenatal space,” said a spokesperson.
“These measures were based on projected demand based on historic patterns and implemented before the temporary suspension began.”
It is understood the Trust will next assess whether to resume births at North Devon District Hospital next Monday, November 9.