Shortage of UK midwives prompts suspension of home birth services

A critical shortage of midwives has led to home birth services being reduced or closed by a number of hospital trusts across the UK, with pregnant women often left in limbo over where they will be able to give birth.

It has emerged that over 20 trusts have disrupted home birth services in the last three months.  Eight have confirmed that their services remain suspended due to staff shortages, including Swansea By University Health Board, East Kent Hospitals and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Home birth services at some trusts, including University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, have been closed since August.  Others have reopened after temporary suspensions or have advised expectant parents that they cannot guarantee providing a midwife when there are staff shortages or a high demand.

The findings have come shortly after midwives across Britain staging protests to call on the government to address the crisis in maternity care, with staff suffering from chronic stress and burnout.

Maria Booker, programmes director at Birthrights charity, said “Staffing pressures in maternity services are very real right now.  But for many women the option to give birth at home is not a luxury, but the only option that feels safe to them.

“Some know they will labour better at home while some do not want to visit hospital during a pandemic.  Others have had a previous traumatic hospital birth.  We cannot just accept that home birth and other choices go out the window every time a maternity service is squeezed.”

Birte Harlev-Lam, executive director of the Royal College of Midwives, said “Despite the best efforts of maternity and other health staff, occasionally home birth services need to be suspended, often only for a few hours, but with an inevitable impact on women in labour.  Suspending home birth services is only done as a last resort to ensure safe care for women.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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