Fears of ‘births in lay-bys’ as extra hospitals think about closing NHS maternity models
Almost 300 women in labour diverted to other hospitals many miles away as protesting mums-to-be say ‘the excitement of having a baby has now turned into dread’
Protesters against the maternity unit closure in North Devon
Pregnant women could face dangerous long journeys to give birth – and fear they could even be forced to have babies in lay-bys – amid growing fears that maternity units will be axed at hospitals across the country.
Birthing services at North Devon Hospital will remain suspended as it was announced two other hospitals in Norfolk could also lose their maternity units.
The Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group said it was considering closing delivery suites at either the James Paget University Hospital or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, or moving all births to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Rachael Cocker, the group’s chief nurse, said the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston-on-Sea and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn were among 12 hospitals in England delivering fewer than 2,000 births a year. She said: “It’s a huge topic. It’s immensely sensitive.”
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Meanwhile the controversial suspension of maternity services at North Devon Hospital in Banstaple has been extended due to an ongoing shortage of doctors.
It sparked fears babies will be born in the backs of cars pulled over in lay-bys as expectant parents from Devon and north east Cornwall have to drive potentially two hours longer to Royal Devon University Healthcare (NDDH) NHS Foundation Trust’s other hospital in Exeter.
Hundreds of pregnant women have been redirected since the closure on August 11 with at least one baby being stillborn. The Mirror has seen documents showing that 282 pregnant women have so far had to be redirected to give birth of these five were categorised as “birth before arrival”.
In a statement, the NDDH trust said: “We remain committed to reopening birthing services at NDDH as soon as possible. We are continuing in our efforts to recruit both temporary and substantive staff. We’ve formally requested support from the wider NHS.”
Concerns are increasing that the rise in complex births will lead to more maternity units at smaller hospitals across the country being closed to be consolidated into bigger regional maternity units.
The Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group said no decisions had been taken and the public would be consulted before any changes were made.
Ms Cocker said the number of births across its three hospitals was expected to fall by between 9% and 13% by 2031/32. The proposals were presented at an extraordinary meeting.
It came as the suspension of maternity services in North Devon was extended just days after around 500 residents including pregnant women staged a protest in Barnstaple Square on Saturday. The event marked three months of the Ladywell maternity unit being closed.
Mums-to-be posted on Facebook outlining their fears. One woman, who is due to give birth in six weeks, said: “I have a major fear my baby will arrive early and will end up giving birth on the side of the road. The excitement of having a baby has now turned into dread.”
Another mum posted: “I’m in the same boat. I’ve had quick labours and I’m terrified I’m going to end up giving birth on the side of the road somewhere.” A third woman added: “I feel you girl. Also due in six weeks and getting really anxious. It isn’t fair on us expecting mums.”
The trust is due to provide its next update on staffing and whether the suspension of maternity services in North Devon will remain in place on November 23.
One health leader previously responded to the North Devon closure by saying that NHS hospitals need to think about “consolidation into fewer, bigger [maternity] units”. Marian Knight, who investigates maternal deaths for the MBRRACE-UK programme, told the Health Service Journal after the North Devon closure that a national lack of capacity for C-sections was a “patient safety issue we need to be actively managing”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the maternity suspension in Barnstaple was “not acceptable” during his first Prime Minister’s Questions and said his government is committed to reopening it.
The trust statement continued: “While the temporary suspension continues all current support arrangements remain in place. Women and birthing people should continue to follow their personalised birth plans on the basis of giving birth at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital or their next nearest hospital. Women should continue to contact maternity triage… early if they think they may be in labour or have urgent concerns.”
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