MOTHERS this week have been venting frustrations over having to travel further to have their babies as a petition to save Okehampton’s maternity unit gathered pace.

Maternity services at the hospital were recently suspended for three months due to staff shortages but The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust has made assurances that the suspension has no connection with proposals to permanently close the service outlined in the Acute Services Review.

Due to the temporary closure women will be unable to give birth at the hospital; however, all antenatal and postnatal clinics, midwifery support and home birth services are running as normal.

The review carried out by doctors, nurses and clinicians across Devon has recommended that the midwifery led unit in Okehampton should close, while a greater emphasis was put on home birth.

Fighting to save the maternity unit, an online petition has been set up and has more than 1,600 signatures.

The current situation has been described as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘distressing’ by Okehampton residents who felt it was unfair that mothers-to-be should have to travel.

First time mum-to-be Beth Wilkinson, who is due to give birth this week, said she was devastated and distressed to have to change her birth plan so close to her due date.

‘I’m due to give birth really soon,’ said Beth. ‘I only found out two weeks ago that I couldn’t give birth at Okehampton Hospital, having being told for the whole eight months that I could.

‘Due to them being shut for three months, I have to go to Barnstaple, which is a real shame because I wanted the same midwife.

‘I feel upset because I am a first time mother and had to change my whole birth plan last minute when I had planned everything around giving birth in Okehampton.’

Emma Benjamin, who set up the petition, commented: ‘The closure would mean a further journey of 25-miles to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for mums in labour — this is unacceptable and potentially puts the lives of the unborn babies and their mothers in danger. We want the closure stopped.

‘The maternity unit is an excellent and essential local facility. It should be held up as an example of excellent, local, dedicated care to the rest of the NHS, not closed.

‘We want as many people as possible to sign the petition to raise awareness of the plight of the maternity unit and hopefully draw it to the attention of the government.’

Natalie Howard, whose son was cared for on the maternity ward, said: ‘The care, support, advice and help which they gave us was second to none. It would be a terrible shame if it was to close permanently. It’s such a valuable service to have in the rural area in which we live.’

The first stage of the Acute Services Review has recommended all four acute hospitals in Devon would continue with A and E, emergency stroke services and maternity services. It also revealed it will be exploring the potential to relocate four midwifery-led maternity units at Okehampton, Newton Abbot, Honiton and Tiverton alongside consultant-led units at its main hospital sites in Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay and Barnstaple.

To view the petition, visit https://you.38 degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-closure-of-okehampton-maternity-unit