There has been widespread media coverage this week reporting that pregnant women and birthing people are being offered classes on how to give birth in a car during the temporary suspension of birthing services at North Devon District Hospital.

The Royal Devon is not providing advice or classes to women, birthing people or their partners on having their babies either on the side of the road or in the back of their cars. We understand the advice discussed in the media is being shared by an external organisation independent of both the Royal Devon and the NHS.

The care of women and birthing people remains our absolute priority, and we are committed to supporting them and their families individually. The Royal Devon has contacted women and birthing people immediately impacted by the temporary suspension of birthing services at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) to develop individual birthing plans that meet their own individual needs, including plans on travelling to hospital when labour begins, and our midwives are continuing to support women and birthing people through regular appointments.

Our advice is:

• If anyone thinks they may be in labour or has concerns about their pregnancy, they should contact our maternity triage line immediately on 01392 406616, where a midwife will discuss their individual circumstances and provide advice tailored to their needs.

• If they think their baby is about to be born and they are not near the hospital, please call 999.

Since the temporary suspension of births at NDDH and until the beginning of this week, 51 babies from North Devon have been born with no baby being born before arrival in hospital.

We have updated our guidance, advice and clinical pathways to reflect the temporary changes in services and have ensured staff and facilities are available to support additional births at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

We want to reassure all pregnant women and birthing people that plans are in place to support them throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth, and we have worked closely with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST) to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place should emergency care be required.

For the latest updates, please refer to:

• Our information pack

• Our website

• Our social media channels

• If you are under the care of our maternity team we are sending messages through MY CARE