NHS Fife abandons plan to end home births — but warns issue may have to be revisited

By Craig Smith
Published in the Courier : 15.09.11
Published online : 15.09.11 @ 11.15am

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"Our financial circumstances next year will be even worse so we may wish to look at this again next year," he said.

Figures presented to members suggested the number of home births has been falling, although it was made clear some women who initially requested home birth gave birth somewhere other than their home due to unforeseen complications.

The cost of a home birth was also said to be up to three times more than the standard £757 direct cost for a birth in a midwife-led unit, according to NHS Fife, depending on when the baby is born and factoring in staff costs in terms of unsocial hours supplements and days off in lieu.

Mr Stewart also wished to clarify claims that many women were being "actively discouraged" from home birthing, although Mrs Inwood insisted that was not true.

"We do give women birth choices in Fife," she replied. "This is what we are supposed to do, to provide choice."

Some committee members were concerned about the perceived increased risk involved with home births. Some midwives were said to be particularly concerned about not being in a position to refuse where they felt the risks in some individual cases were too significant.

However, the committee agreed it was not for its members to judge home births versus hospital births.

Medical director Gordon Birnie suggested, however, that the situation was "finely balanced in terms of risk."

The news was given a qualified welcome by Euro MP Catherine Stihler, who said: "Whilst I am happy that there will be no immediate discontinuation of the home birth service in Fife, it is deeply concerning that it is still under threat.

"All women should have the choice of where to give birth. I urge the Scottish Government to continue to support the national policy on maternity services and protect the home birth service for all women."

Photo by Flickr user Lan Bui.