Home Birth Service Paused Amid Safety Review
A significant change has been announced for expectant parents in Gloucestershire as the local NHS trust has temporarily suspended its home birth service. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the decision to pause the service for an initial period of two weeks, starting from Friday, 7th November 2025.
The suspension comes directly from safety concerns raised by the trust's own staff. While home births are designed for low-risk deliveries, the trust highlighted that complications can arise, creating potential risks for both the mother and baby that are harder to manage outside a hospital setting.
Staffing Challenges Prompt Service Rethink
At the heart of the issue are significant staffing pressures. The trust stated it is "finding it hard" to cover the on-call home birth service at night without potentially compromising safety. The concern is that staff could end up working after completing a full day shift, which is not considered safe practice.
Although the trust has successfully recruited more midwives to its main service over the last two years, bolstering the home birth teams has proven more difficult. These specialist roles demand a high degree of autonomy and require "significant skills and experience" to support women labouring at home without immediate backup.
While the initial pause is for a fortnight, the trust has been clear that this could lead to a longer suspension while a new, sustainable staffing model is developed.
What This Means for Expectant Families
The immediate impact is limited, given that home births account for fewer than 2% of births in the county, equating to just four to six such deliveries per month. The trust has already proactively contacted all women and families who had registered a plan for a home birth during this period.
Community midwives will continue to provide antenatal care as usual. For those affected, alternative birth options are available, including midwife-led care at both Stroud Maternity Hospital and the Gloucester Birth Unit. Full care and support also continue at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
The trust expressed regret for the disappointment this decision will cause, emphasising that its primary focus must remain on ensuring the safety of its maternity services for everyone.
