MPs seek assurances over maternity services disruption in North Devon

A cross-party group of MPs has written to the Health Secretary seeking urgent assurances over the impact the temporary closure of maternity services in North Devon could have on the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E).

The letter, led by Exmouth and Exeter East MP David Reed and sent to Health Secretary Yvette Cooper on Wednesday 25 August, warns that the closure could result in additional patients being directed to the RD&E, adding further pressure to its maternity services.

It was also signed by Ian Roome MP (North Devon), Rachel Gilmour MP (Tiverton and Minehead), Richard Foord MP (Honiton and Sidmouth) and Edward Morello MP (West Dorset), all representing constituencies whose residents use maternity services at the RD&E.

What the MPs are asking for

The MPs have asked the Department of Health and Social Care to set out what assessment has been made of how many additional patients may need to use the RD&E because of the closure, and what impact this could have on staffing, bed availability and existing capacity.

They are also seeking details of contingency plans should demand exceed current projections, including whether extra staffing and resources would be made available, and how patient safety, quality of care and waiting times would be monitored.

In the letter, the MPs wrote that they were concerned the closure "could place additional pressure on the RD&E, potentially creating an unsafe environment for both patients and staff if increased demand is not matched by sufficient capacity and resources."

They also acknowledged the impact on families directly affected by the closure itself. "As you can imagine this is causing a lot of distress to expectant mothers and their families so we would appreciate a swift response from the department," they wrote.

Concerns beyond one hospital

While the letter focuses specifically on the RD&E, David Reed said the consequences of the closure were unlikely to be contained to a single hospital or county.

"Our letter focuses on the RD&E because it is the hospital that so many of our constituents rely on, and we need assurances that any additional demand can be managed safely," he said. "But this issue does not stop at the doors of the RD&E. Maternity services do not operate neatly within constituency or county boundaries, and disruption on this scale has the potential to create a knock-on effect across Devon and into neighbouring counties.

"If patients have to travel elsewhere for care, that additional demand has to go somewhere. The Government needs to be looking at the wider picture and making sure hospitals across the region have the capacity, staffing and resources they need to keep patients and staff safe."

Support for North Devon MP's efforts

The letter recognises the work of North Devon MP Ian Roome in raising concerns about the closure and pressing for clarity over the future of maternity provision in his constituency.

Reed said the group wanted to support that work while making sure knock-on effects elsewhere in the region weren't overlooked. "Ian Roome has rightly been leading efforts on the situation in North Devon," he said. "We want to support that work while making sure the potential consequences for services elsewhere are not overlooked."

The letter was also copied to the Chief Executive of Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.