Relaunch of our home birth service

We are pleased to be relaunching our Home Birth Service this summer (2026), following a carefully planned programme of service development and workforce investment.

The service was paused in 2021 due to workforce and safety considerations. Since then, significant work has taken place to ensure the safe and sustainable return of home birth provision, including:

  • Strengthened staffing arrangements
  • Targeted recruitment of midwives
  • A dedicated home birth training programme
  • A ring-fenced workforce to support safe and consistent care

The relaunched service will be supported by midwives from our MLU and Home Birth teams and midwives from community teams, ensuring families receive expert support from midwives with specialist knowledge and experience of home birth.

MLU & Home Birth Team Leader Elliott discusses the relaunch of the home birth service

Choosing a home birth

MLU and Home Birth Team Lead Esther explains what happens at a home birth

Women and birthing people who choose to give birth at home will receive personalised care planning from early pregnancy, helping them make informed decisions about their birth options. Support will include:

  • Individualised discussions about suitability for home birth
  • Personalised birth planning throughout pregnancy
  • A home assessment between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy
  • Delivery of essential birth equipment ahead of labour
  • Two midwives during your labour