Home birthing to return after midwife training

Home birthing will return to Jersey after training of midwives takes place, the Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell has said.

The service was paused in October 2024 for an internal review with an outcome expected by the end of June at the earliest, Ms Howell told a States meeting.

She also said that 40 local midwives would be trained in home births by a UK company in April and May.

"The plan is to reintroduce the home birthing service when all the staff have been appropriately trained, any recommendations to the review have been implemented, and it is deemed safe to do so," she said.

In the meantime, women would receive care and support for their deliveries at the General Hospital's maternity unit, she said.

The unit offered midwife-led delivery suites, both equipped with operational birthing pools.

Women were encouraged to bring personal items to make the space more comfortable and could return home as soon as it was safe after the birth, she said.

"I would like to reiterate to members of the public that the decisions being made are clinically led, prioritising women on this island and their safety," she said.

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