Home / Health / Home Births Return, New Birth Team Launched
Home Births Return, New Birth Team Launched
3 Nov
Summary
- Community Birth Team to operate 24/7 from January.
- Home birth service resumes in January after suspension.
- Cheltenham Birth Centre to reopen February 2027.
Significant changes are coming to maternity services across Gloucestershire starting in January. A new Community Birth Team will operate around the clock, managing the county's home birth service, which is scheduled to resume on January 4, 2027, following a year-long suspension. This service was paused in November 2025 due to safety concerns raised by staff.
The Cheltenham Birth Centre (CBC) is also set to reopen its doors on February 1, 2027. CBC has been closed since 2022, with its closure lasting five years. These service restorations and the introduction of the new team aim to provide more sustainable birth choices for expectant mothers.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged the wait for these services, apologizing for the impact. Recruitment and training are progressing to ensure safe, high-quality care upon reopening. Birth services at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital will remain unaffected by these changes.
