Rise in NHS birth centre closures ‘shocking’ denial of women’s rights, experts say
Summary
Twelve midwife-led birth centres in England have closed since 2019, including six permanently since Labour took office in July 2024. Campaigners say closures and suspended home-birth services reduce women’s choices and can force them to travel farther; NHS bodies cite staffing shortages and safety concerns among the pressures on maternity care.Key Facts
- Birth centres are maternity units where midwives oversee births, offering an alternative to doctor-led hospital units and home birth.
- Four birth centres have been closed temporarily for periods of up to six years, while two more closed because their hospital buildings need replacement.
- Six permanent closures since July 2024 were reported in Rossendale, Edgware, Melton Mowbray, Stafford and Lichfield, and Pontefract.
- NHS bodies have also suspended home-birth services in England and Wales for periods of up to 14 months.
- The article links closures and suspensions to a shortage of midwives, a falling birthrate, more complex childbirth and an increase in caesarean sections.
- The Huddersfield birth centre has remained closed since November 2020; its NHS trust said it had no reopening decision or timetable.
- The Royal College of Midwives warned that lack of NHS midwife-led care could lead some women to seek private support or give birth at home without a health professional.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
