Childbirth hospital choice restrictions

Women limited in their choice of places to give birth despite government policy, report claims

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Monday, 26, Oct 2009 08:49

Despite government policy stating women should be able to choose where they give birth, over 95 per cent are not able to.

In a report from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) released today, entitled Location, location, location, it was found 95.8 per cent of women do not yet have access to a real choice between the three options of home birth.

The NCT say offering women a choice of a midwife, a local midwifery facility and an obstetric unit in a hospital is government policy across the UK, as it is proven to have a positive effect on birth outcomes.

However, 89 per cent of women live in areas that realistically do not offer the choice of a home birth with a midwife, and over 40 per cent of women live in areas without reasonable access to both a birth centre and an obstetric unit in a hospital.

Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the NCT, said: "For every ten pregnant women, nine are not able to choose where they want to give birth. We know across the UK, government policies support women with this choice. However, in reality this is not even close to being delivered yet.

"We want the governments to act now. Although in a few cases more investment in maternity services will be needed, with a simple re-thinking of the way their maternity services are delivered every trust and board can ensure choice is available to all women."

The research for the report was commissioned in light of the government's 'maternity matters' promise that all women in England will have access to choice of place of birth by the end of 2009.

As part of the 'Location, location, location' campaign launched today, the NCT is calling for the commitment to guarantee choice of place of birth by the Department of Health to be implemented fully, and for the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to make a similar commitment to guarantee choice.