THE announcement of the temporary closure of ‘birthing services’ at North Devon District Hospital has been met with demands for government intervention to reverse the decision at the earliest possible opportunity.

Bosses at the hospital announced that it would shut the maternity ward until further notice at the hospital due to a shortage of staff.

Sir Geoffrey Cox KC, the MP for Torridge and Tavistock, has called on the Labour government to intervene to help reverse the closure.

In a letter to Yvette Cooper, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sir Geoffrey said: “This decision has understandably caused significant anxiety and uncertainty for expectant parents and families throughout Torridge and the wider region. Many families now face journeys of well over an hour to maternity units in Exeter or Plymouth, often in highly stressful and time-critical circumstances.

“Any reduction in services at the hospital places considerable additional pressure on an already stretched healthcare system throughout Devon and Cornwall, while also increasing the burden on patients and their families.

“The trust has explained that this temporary suspension is as the result of workforce pressures, particularly a shortage of senior medical staff. While patient safety must always remain the overriding priority and it is essential that services are delivered safely, any prolonged suspension of maternity services at NDDH would be unsustainable. It would not only increase pressure on neighbouring hospitals but also deepen the understandable concerns of expectant parents and the dedicated hospital staff.

“In light of these circumstances I would be grateful if you could outline what discussions your department has had, or intends to have, with the trust to address these workforce challenges. I would also welcome details of any support the department is able to provide to help restore these services as quickly as possible and ensure that the suspension is as brief as possible.”