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Home births suspended for months over safety fears
19 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Hospital trust suspends home births for over six months.
- Staffing concerns are the primary reason for the suspension.
- New care models and retraining planned for service restoration.
A significant suspension of home birth services by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will now extend well into 2026. Initially a two-week pause initiated on November 6, the trust has now formalized an extension of over six months, citing critical safety concerns.
The primary driver behind this prolonged suspension is the worryingly low staffing levels, which have particularly impacted the ability to provide adequate support during late working hours. This has prompted a thorough review and risk assessment by the trust's leadership.
Heather Gallagher, interim director of midwifery, stated that the extended downtime is essential. It will be utilized for comprehensive staff retraining and the development of an entirely new model for care delivery, aiming to ensure the safe recommencement of home birth services in the future.
