Readers have highlighted the dangers pregnant women face in rural areas as hospital closures increase travel distances during labour. The situation in Devon and Cornwall, following the closure of North Devon district hospital, reflects a broader trend over the past two decades.
Rural Closures Increase Distances
In south Cumbria, first-time deliveries are only available at Lancaster or Barrow-in-Furness. For residents of Ambleside, the journey to Royal Lancaster infirmary can take an hour, but traffic often causes long delays.
An ambulance may be quicker, but there is often a two-hour delay before one becomes available. Pat Gibson of Kendal, who once drove his partner to hospital after a heart attack, notes the ambulance delays in Cumbria. He recalls that Kendal's maternity unit, now closed, was midwife-led and provided the best outcome for him, far better than being in the second stage of labour on the hard shoulder of the M6.
Impact on Staffing and Retirement
In Caithness, Scotland, mothers-to-be have faced over two-hour journeys to Raigmore hospital for more than a decade after services were downgraded at Caithness general hospital. This issue makes young professionals reconsider accepting posts in teaching and healthcare in the north Highlands.
Julie Adams of Arbroath, who lived and worked in Caithness for four decades, decided not to retire there due to the distance from a major hospital. She and other colleagues made similar choices.
Historical and Ongoing Concerns
One reader recalls that in 1978, their mother was told to travel from Lynton to Barnstaple for birth. Now, 46 years later, women in north Devon are told to travel to Taunton or Exeter for spontaneous births, or stay home and hope for the best. Congestion on local roads worsens, and working-age people are priced out by holiday lets and second homes.
Sarah Sheils of York, visiting Barnstaple, was dismayed that women must travel 40 miles along narrow country roads to Exeter while in labour. She notes the chronic shortage of midwives and hopes health secretary Yvette Cooper can act quickly. Cooper plans to reintroduce binding national maternity standards.
