'No woman should have to give birth in a lay-by — Government must act to keep maternity unit open'

'No woman should have to give birth in a lay-by — Government must act to keep maternity unit open' Barnstaple’s North Devon District Hospital has temporarily shuttered its birthing wing due to staff shortages, forcing expectant mums to face a gruelling journey of almost two hours to Exeter A birth plan should never include directions to the nearest lay-by. Yet that is the grim reality now facing women in North Devon, where the closure of Barnstaple’s maternity unit has left expectant mothers preparing for the possibility of delivering their babies in a car. In one of the richest countries in the world, how have we reached the point where women are being told to pack blankets, bottles of water, and enough fuel to keep the heating running in case labour overtakes them on the road? It is a scandal born out of neglect. For years, rural communities have watched vital services become thinner, more distant and more fragile. Now that decline has reached the delivery room. The women affected are not asking for luxury. They want the basic reassurance that skilled help will be there when their baby comes. Government and NHS bosses must act. Childbirth is frightening enough without wondering whether your baby will arrive in a hospital bed or a roadside. Thanks, banks When families are being squeezed by interest rates, food bills and another rise in energy costs, it is hard to stomach banks posting bumper profits. That is why the case for a tougher windfall tax is so strong. The public clearly agrees. Voters across the political divide back making the banks pay more, with support running at more than three to one. The proposal is modest: raise the existing bank surcharge from three per cent to at least eight per cent and use the money to cut energy bills for struggling households by up to £559 a year. Banks have benefited handsomely from higher interest rates while millions have paid the price. As Ofgem prepares to raise bills again, ministers should listen. Companies with the broadest shoulders can afford to carry more. High praise A career change can be daunting at any age, so easyJet’s success in bringing over-50s into cabin crew roles is worth celebrating. Experience, confidence and people skills do not come with a sell-by date. People like Francesca Hicks, flying high at 64, prove that new adventures can begin later in life.