Midwife-supported homebirths will not be re-introduced in Guernsey after their suspension due to coronavirus. The committee for health and social care explained it is difficult for a small team to accommodate the births.
It said that if the service was reinstated, it may impact deliveries on Loveridge Ward in Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
A spokesperson said they were "very sorry" to parents who wanted to give birth at home.
The committee said homebirths rely on a demanding on-call commitment from community midwives on top of their contracted hours.
To facilitate a birth at home, two of the five midwives are required to be on-call for 24 hours a day, for up to five weeks at a time.
Deputy Tina Bury, vice president of the committee for health and social care, said: "The midwifery team is small and it was simply not sustainable or safe in the long-term to provide the kind of on-call cover needed to support homebirths.
Source: BBC News, 5 March 2022
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment