STAFF sickness has caused the closure of Okehampton Maternity Unit for the next three months. Midwifery services for home birth, birth and inpatient postnatal care at Okehampton's birthing unit has been suspended as of May 30 due to exceptionally high levels of staff sickness and temporary changes in some staff working. The unit is to remain closed until the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the unit, is confident staffing levels have returned to normal and that this level can be sustained. The trust is hopeful the service will be re-opened by September. All routine antenatal and postnatal care is unaffected. Tracey Reeves, deputy chief nurse and midwife, said: 'We have been unable to redeploy midwifery staff from other areas to the unit as this would result in more than one area being unsuitably staffed. 'Our bank midwifery staff provide short term cover for sickness and are unable to provide long term commitments to cover the work required in a community setting. 'We will endeavour to resume services at the unit as quickly as possible. All routine antenatal and postnatal care is unaffected. Temporary alternative arrangements have been made for women planning a midwife led birth to receive care at the Exeter Birth Unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital or at the Tiverton Birth Unit. 'It is hoped that the service will be re-opened for inpatient care and births by September 2014. 'We would like to apologise to any women who have been inconvenienced but would assure them that the decision has been taken to ensure the safest service provision for mothers and babies at this time.' County councillor for Okehampton Rural Division Kevin Ball said he had great sympathy for the families who had planned to have their baby delivered locally in the next few months. He said: 'The closure is obviously regrettable, but with the number of staff who are off sick, the unit cannot be supported safely. 'The safety of mothers and families is paramount, and so there has sadly been no other choice but to close the unit temporarily. 'As the local member, I will be keeping my eye on the situation and I look forward to seeing the unit open again as soon as possible.'