Five babies delivered in ambulances and hospital foyers after Devon maternity unit closure

The maternity wing at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple was temporarily shuttered in August due to a lack of staff, sending hundreds of pregnant women on a two-hour journey to Exeter for delivery. In the ensuing months, five births occurred outside conventional settings: two in the back of ambulances, two within emergency departments and one in a hospital reception area. Antenatal educator Catherine Mchomvu said the events are heartbreaking and have amplified anxiety among expectant parents.

Campaigner Katy Quick recounted a stillbirth that happened when a high-risk mother could not secure transport to Exeter. Council leader Julian Brazil likened the situation to a "Dunkirk for mums" and called on the Health Secretary and Prime Minister to reopen the unit promptly. North Devon MP Ian Roome warned that some women are now considering elective caesareans to avoid the risky road trip, while a spokesperson for the hospital noted that the number of off-site births is low and no safety incidents have been confirmed.