HOME birth services are now being offered again by hospitals in Somerset - after they were suspended due to staff shortages.

Usually pregnant women will be given the option of whether they would like to give birth in hospital or at home, but this service was halted by the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in April 2022.

The midwifery-led Mary Stanley Unit at Bridgwater Community Hospital was also temporarily suspended.

This affected around 20 families during the course of April, but the trust has now assured patients that the home birthing service, and the Mary Stanley Unit, was back up and running from May 3.

Nicky Van-Eerde, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s interim head of midwifery, said: “In April, we experienced staffing shortages across the Somerset health and social care system due to high levels of colleague sickness and absence from Covid-19, and unfortunately this impacted on our maternity services.

“The safety of our patients is paramount, so we took the difficult decision to temporarily halt our home birthing service, as well as the midwifery-led Mary Stanley Unit at Bridgwater Community Hospital.

"This affected around 20 families over the course of the month and patients were contacted directly to talk through the temporary changes and offer support.

“We are incredibly sorry to the women and families who had planned their perfect home or community birth and were affected by this temporary reduction in services.

“We are pleased that we’ve been able to resume our home birthing service and Mary Stanley Unit as normal since May 3 and our team of midwives are continuing to discuss all birthing options with families at their antenatal appointments.”

Despite the services being resumed, the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust states on its website that there are occasions where the home birthing team may be very busy and other plans may have to be made.

However, only in 'exceptional' circumstances will women be asked to give birth at hospital or in a birthing centre.

The website states: "If you are considering a home birth you can discuss this with your community midwife during your pregnancy. Your midwife will visit you at home at around 34 weeks of pregnancy to perform your home birth risk assessment, discuss your preparations for the birth of your baby and to support you and your partner to prepare.

"We are committed in supporting your home birth, however there are occasions when the home birth team and labour wards are very busy and a midwife may not be able to attend immediately.

"If this situation arises, a plan will be discussed with you over the phone. The plan may include an invitation into the birth centre or labour ward for assessment. In exceptional circumstances we may ask you to give birth in the hospital or birth centre."

To keep-up-to date visit the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust website at somersetft.nhs.uk/maternity/.