Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to take urgent measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of maternity services at North Devon District Hospital.

The situation in North Devon in recent weeks has been unacceptable. As the Prime Minister told the House on 2 September, we expect the situation in North Devon to be resolved in the coming weeks.

The local National Health Service trust has set out a provisional timeline for reopening birthing services which is available at the following link:

https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/maternity-and-obstetrics/nddh-birth-services-temporary-changes/