Written question asked by Helen Clark (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 September 2004. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Monday, 13 September 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS will provide (a) a midwife and (b) medical attendance at a home birth.

Answer: Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS will provide (a) a midwife and (b) medical attendance at a home birth. [186114] Dr. Ladyman: We expect the national health service to provide a range of maternity services that includes the provision of home births. It is however for local decision makers to decide if a home birth service can be delivered safely and, if they do so decide, then the service might be withdrawn by a NHS trust on a temporary basis if a short term staff shortage means that such a service cannot be delivered safely or would jeopardise patient safety elsewhere in the trust. If a NHS trust provides a home birth service, it should ensure that suitably skilled midwives are available to attend the woman and to provide care and support throughout the labour and birth. Appropriate transfer arrangements should also be in place in case the woman or baby needs specialist medical care.

Secondary information