Campaigners in Gloucestershire were denied the opportunity to question health officials about the ongoing suspension of home births during a scrutiny meeting on January 27. Home births in the county have been paused since November amid staff safety concerns, compounding existing worries over local maternity services.
The Aveta Birth Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital was temporarily closed in 2022 due to staff shortages and safety issues. Despite Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recruiting the equivalent of 25 full-time midwives since then, any reopening depends on a thorough review.
A group of women and professionals challenged the decision to suspend home births but were barred from raising questions at the Gloucestershire County Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee. Chief Nurse Matt Holdaway emphasized that the suspension was not made lightly. He referenced a recent prevention of future deaths report linked to a tragic case in Manchester, underscoring the need for the safest possible care.
READ MORE: Rider Shafique Trial: Music Star Denies Assaulting Brother’s Partner in Dispute Over Toilet Roll
Green Party Councillor Richard Dean stressed that home birth is a human right, while Councillor Julia Gooch sought assurances that the decision prioritizes women’s welfare. Holdaway maintained that the suspension is in the best interests of women to ensure safety, acknowledging the disappointment this causes some.
Gooch also highlighted the lack of birthing units in the Forest of Dean, emphasizing the importance of home birth options for mothers in her district. Hospital officials promised a forthcoming review and updates on birthing units, including the continued closure at Cheltenham.
When Reform UK Councillor Stuart Graham asked if the public present could pose questions, Liberal Democrat Chair Iain Dobbie declined, citing best practice guidelines that discourage public questioning during scrutiny committees.
After the meeting, a campaigner criticized the open-ended nature of the suspension, stating, “Temporary suspensions need to have an end date or they are not temporary. We’ve seen this with the Aveta Birth Centre, which remains closed indefinitely.”