Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has announced a two-week suspension of home birth services following safety concerns raised by its staff. This pause may be extended as the trust develops a new staffing model to ensure safe maternity care.
Home births in Gloucestershire represent less than 2% of all deliveries, averaging four to six births per month. While they are reserved for low-risk pregnancies, complications during home births can pose significant risks to both mother and baby.
The trust explained that the decision was made after difficulties emerged in safely covering the on-call home birth service, especially during night shifts, without overworking staff. Despite efforts to recruit more midwives in recent years, the home birth teams require highly skilled and experienced practitioners who can work autonomously—a capacity the trust has struggled to expand.
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During the suspension, community midwives will continue providing antenatal care, and midwife-led services remain available at Stroud Maternity Hospital and Gloucester Birth Unit. Women who had planned home births have been contacted individually to discuss alternative options.
The trust expressed regret over the inconvenience but emphasized that safeguarding patient safety remains the highest priority. Midwives and maternity support workers will continue offering care at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Stroud Maternity Hospital throughout the suspension.