Home births suspended for further six months in Gloucestershire

Home births in Gloucestershire will be suspended for another six months following safety concerns raised by staff, an NHS trust has said.

The service was temporarily suspended two weeks ago, with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirming that will now continue into 2026.

The change was brought in following concerns about staffing levels, which the trust said has since been part of a review and risk assessment.

Interim Director of Midwifery, Heather Gallagher said, “Over the past two weeks the Trust has conducted a review and risk assessment of our home birth service and it was clear that the suspension needed to be extended to allow retraining, and a new model of care delivery to be designed and implemented.

“We’re seeing an increase in the number of requests to support births at home against medical advice. We need to review our current guidelines, standards and processes to fully inform and support the choices and preferences of women and birthing people requesting to birth outside of guidance.”

The trust said it will continue to contact women and families who planned to give birth at home, and midwives will discuss birthing options with them individually.

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