Plan to end Fife home births due to costs and falling demand
Fife's NHS bosses are planning to end the service which allows expectant mothers to give birth at home.
- By Claire Warrender
- Published in the Courier : 18.07.11
- Published online : 18.07.11 @ 09.26am
A drop in demand and improvements to maternity care in hospital have been cited as the reasons behind the move.
A review of the home birth service is one of a number of proposals in a list of efficiency savings put forward by NHS Fife's operational division, and could save the board £33,000.
Director of nursing Caroline Inwood said only 40 women in Fife gave birth at home last year, 30 fewer than in 2009.
So far this year, just 10 women have registered an interest in the service.
"When I did my midwifery training in the 1980s people would come in for a normal delivery and stay for five days, and after a caesarian section they would stay 10 days," said Ms Inwood.
"Maternity care has changed dramatically over the years and we now have a situation where women stay with us for six hours."
Consultant obstetrician Steven Monaghan said that on speaking to women who requested a home birth, the most common reason given was they did not want to be "over medicalised."
"Luckily we have a very good midwife-led unit which is being looked at nationally and internationally and in six months women will have a facility in the new hospital wing where they will labour and recover in one room and can have their whole family there if they like."
Operational division chief executive John Wilson added, "We are reviewing the way resources are allocated.
"Numbers are reducing year on year and it's quite expensive for us to have people on call in case they get called to somebody's house rather than being on duty in a hospital.
"As the hospital birth rate is increasing the home birth is decreasing. When people see the facilities they will deliver in I think they will be extremely pleased."
The efficiency savings plan for 2011-12 aims to save £4.95 million, which is 2.2% of the overall budget.
The board also has a financial recovery plan and together the two papers include savings of £9.7 million.
06.20pm - 18.07.2011 Del - Glenrothes, Fife Report This
"allows expectant mothers to give birth at home" and the other rubbish. Women can choose to give birth wherever they want! It's not up to the government, for goodness' sake! Please start resisting this nanny state mentality, folks!
06.26pm - 18.07.2011 Karen - Forfar, Scotland Report This
The RCOG’s press release last Thursday called for a reform in the maternity services and recommending that more births should take place in midwife-led units and AT HOME. Are the community midwives even OFFERING Home as a choice to women they care for? NHS Fife must not remove choice!
06.38pm - 18.07.2011 JM - glenrothes, Scotland Report This
So much for saying that women get to choose how they give birth. Question how much does the cost of hospital birth cost when you include the cost of instrumental delivery caused by medicalisation of childbirth in hospital? Has this been costed or conveniently glossed over?
07.24pm - 18.07.2011 Beverley - Surbiton, England Report This
Fife's home birth rate is falling is because of bullying women into hospital. Fife can save money three times as much money by supporting women wanting one. It will reduce the caesarean section rates, reduce postnatal problems, increase breastfeeding and save millions.
12.02am - 19.07.2011 Marie Buckleygray - Fife, UK Report This
This is the thin edge of the wedge and must not be allowed. Is there something significantly different about the Fife population or landscape which equates to such low numbers of home births? No. NHS Fife should be ashamed that they are so far out of line with the rest of the UK. Focus Mr Wilson!
10.53am - 25.07.2011 Anon - Anon, Scotland Report This
Home birth has now been removed as a choice in NHS Fife - I was informed of this today by my midwife as I was planning a home birth and now am not allowed to proceed with this choice.
11.16pm - 25.07.2011 Anon - Dunfermline, UK Report This
Demand is dropping as women are routinely not being offered the choice....and when they do ask for a homebirth, they have to fight to get one. This is unacceptable, and those who support home birth as a choice need to speak up now as the service is being currently withdrawn.
08.51pm - 03.08.2011 anon - fife, scotland Report This
ithink it is disgraceful that this choice has been taken away from women!!child birth is already over medicalised and this decision confirms it. no matter how great a birth centre they build, it will never compare to giving birth in the comfort of your own familiar home!!!
04.30pm - 05.08.2011 susannah dean - fife, fife Report This
On a personal level I am deeply disappointed as I had a fabulous HB with the W Fife team. As a pregnancy yoga teacher and childbirth educator I am shocked and dismayed. This is a step back to the 1930s, when birth was first forced into hospitals, it also does nothing for 'informed choice'.
03.48pm - 10.08.2011 Ligita Salkauskaite - Alloa, UK Report This
Woman should have the right of choice. And the choice shoud not be compared to the saving millions pounds. I had a wonderful HB myself and I am voting for the woman's right to choose!
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