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This briefing provides you with up-to-date information – please use this when people are asking you questions or raising concerns with you.

 

At a glance:

• We have made progress in recruiting the medical staffing needed to safely reopen the birthing services at North Devon District Hospital. We remain cautiously optimistic that we will be in a position to do this by the end of September. A formal Board meeting to agree the reopening plan is being scheduled for next week.
• 56 women and birthing people gave birth at RD&E up to 27 August, with no incidents
• Free taxi support launched this week following collaborative work between Devon County Council, NHS Devon ICB and the Trust
• Feedback campaign has launched working with Devon Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership

 

Reopening and recruitment update

We updated you earlier this week about our reopening plans following a Board briefing that took place on Wednesday.

 

The Board acknowledged the Trust's determination to restore birthing services as quickly as possible and noted solid progress being made towards securing the required number of senior medical staff. The Board confirmed agreement of these requirements.

 

We have an eight-slot consultant rota and an eight-slot tier 2 rota that ensures a 24/7 medical rota. These rotas are separate but connected.

 

The proposed reopening model requires:

1. A fully staffed consultant rota
2. A fully staffed tier 2 (registrar) rota
3. A minimum of 75% substantive staffing on each rota to reduce reliance on temporary staff.

 

Before confirming a reopening date, the Board has asked for final assurance that those requirements have been met in full.

 

A formal Board meeting to agree the reopening plan is being scheduled for next week. We remain cautiously optimistic that we will be in a position to reopen by the end of September, subject to final Board assurances on operational readiness, resilience and sustainability.

 

We understand that women, birthing people, families and the wider community want certainty, and we remain focused on reopening the service as soon as it is safe and sustainable to do so.

 

We will provide a further update after the Board meeting.

 

Recruitment update

Our recruitment campaign continues and is focussed on filling the immediate gaps in staffing with locum doctors, whilst also seeking to recruit substantively to ensure the long-term viability of the service.

 

Tier 2 (registrar) doctors

• Two locum obstetrics and gynaecology tier 2 (registrar) doctors are currently being onboarded. One has started this week and the second is due to start next week.
• Visas have now been confirmed for two tier 2 (registrar) doctors who were successful at interview in July. These are substantive appointments and due to begin in September.

 

Consultants

• Two locum obstetrics and gynaecology consultants have now commenced and are working well in the team.
• Recruitment remains ongoing for two substantive consultant posts: a consultant obstetrics lead and a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology. The latter advert is due to close in the next few days - we will republish as a new advert to bring it to the top of search lists.
• These are being actively marketed via:
  • Advertising across the BMJ, NHS Jobs and Career Gateway.
  • Executive search, who are actively contacting potential candidates directly.
  • Social media campaigns across LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
  • Direct engagement through the O&G professional body and through consultant colleagues.
  • To date, our campaign has generated: 150,982 views and 14,906 clicks
  • Any further help with sharing our adverts more widely across networks is much appreciated.

 

We recognise there is a national shortage of obstetric and gynaecology consultants and the recruitment market remains very competitive.

 

We also recognise that reopening the service places the organisation in a stronger position to attract permanent staff.

 

Operational update

Since 11 August and up to 27 August

 

56 North Devon women have given birth at RD&E

• 23 vaginal
• 4 forceps
• 15 emergency C-section
• 12 elective C-section
• 2 ventouse
• 0 incidents

 

5 babies repatriated to transitional care at NDDH

102 North Devon women have attended triage at RD&E

 

Community midwifery, antenatal care, scans and outpatient services are continuing in North Devon. 

 

The majority of North Devon maternity staff have transferred to support services in Exeter. A small number of staff remain in North Devon to provide postnatal support, including infant feeding support and newborn checks.

 

Whilst the transition has been challenging, staff are becoming more settled and feedback from women and birthing people receiving care has generally been positive.

 

Feedback campaign launched

A dedicated feedback campaign has started.

• Devon Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership has launched a survey this week
• The Trust is promoting Care Opinion for women and birthing people, which allows them to provide anonymous feedback that goes directly to our maternity team

This is on top of our usual routes for women, birthing people and families to raise concerns and share feedback. It will help the Trust and our partners fully understand how women, birthing people and families are experiencing the arrangements during this time and help us make improvements where possible.

 

Supporting women and birthing people 

• Additional support is being provided – in particular, dedicated appointments where women and birthing people can discuss accommodation and transport needs. They can be referred by their community midwife.
• With the support of Devon County Council and NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), we have launched free taxi support this week.
• Women and birthing people can have the cost of a taxi covered if they've been advised by maternity triage that they need to travel to hospital. They are being provided with a list of participating taxi companies and the code to quote to ensure the NHS is charged.
• We are also sharing a local Exeter hotel discount code with women and birthing people, and are sharing details of the accommodation available on the RD&E site, although this is limited.
• We have sent an update to women and birthing people via MY CARE to ensure they are aware of the new support available and how to access it.

 

Our information pack has also been updated with all the latest.

 

Our two key messages remain

• Speak to their midwife at their next appointment. These are at regular intervals from 8-10 weeks. Or they can call our helpline for non-urgent enquiries about the temporary suspension.
• Call our 24/7 urgent maternity triage line as soon as they think they might be in labour or have any other concerns. This enables us to get women to Exeter at the earliest opportunity.

 

Our patient information social media campaign launched last week and continues. Your support in sharing this would be appreciated – see links at the end of this update.

 

Communications and engagement

We are aware of speculation circulating about the future of North Devon District Hospital.

 

We have no plans to downgrade any services at the hospital and are in fact investing in expanding services such as Same Day Emergency Care. This is part of wider plans which are vital for reducing pressure at NDDH, improving waiting times, and ensuring care remains safe and sustainable for years to come.

 

However, there are challenges that health providers face in maintaining safe local services for rural communities. NDDH is not alone in experiencing staffing issues that led to the temporary suspension of birthing services at NDDH. That our new hospital rebuild has been put back to 2040 risks heightening service fragility in North Devon. We will continue to push for investment and support, and welcome any support from our stakeholders.

 

Key resources

• We have introduced a routine online briefing for the wider community. This is available on our website and through social media.
• We continue to update our patient information pack with new information. We're promoting this widely. It is translated and in easy read.
• Our dedicated Trust web page is updated regularly and has the very latest information and FAQs.

 

Our FAQ pages

1. Why is this happening?
2. How long will this last for?
3. What are you doing to restore birthing services at NDDH?
4. What does this mean for my pregnancy and birth?
5. I think I'm in labour – what do I do?
6. Travel and getting to hospital
7. Which services are changing?
8. What support is available?
9. How can I stay informed?

 

Mythbuster – why are you only now recruiting?

We have seen this continue to appear in the media so have included again this week.

 

We have continually been running recruitment campaigns for doctors specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. Over the past year we have run multiple rounds of recruitment and whilst some of these have resulted in job offers from the Trust to individuals, unfortunately none of these have progressed further.

 

Our last round before we announced the temporary suspension concluded in July.

 

Reflecting on previous campaigns, we have refreshed our consultant recruitment at pace and have benchmarked our offer against other NHS trusts to ensure it is as competitive as possible. We also have an active marketing and executive search campaign in place.

 

Whilst we are doing all we can to offer attractive and competitive roles, there is a national shortage of suitably qualified obstetric consultants and the decision to permanently relocate to a smaller, rural unit will be a personal choice.

 

How you can help

Share our patient information pack for women, birthing people and families and share our social media posts to help us reach more people.

Find links to our latest posts.

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram

 

Signpost people to our website for the latest updates and FAQs.

• Share our latest job advert
• Careers website
• LinkedIn 
• Facebook 
• Instagram 

 

Use the information we have shared with you to respond to questions from your community

 

Thank you for your continued support. We will update you again soon.