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Home births at risk as midwife service collapses | Home births at risk as midwife service collapses |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hundreds of mothers-to-be have lost access to their midwives after a community service was forced to close. | Hundreds of mothers-to-be have lost access to their midwives after a community service was forced to close. |
Women across the north-west of England and in Essex have been affected after One to One announced it was withdrawing the services it provided for the NHS. | Women across the north-west of England and in Essex have been affected after One to One announced it was withdrawing the services it provided for the NHS. |
The company said the contracts it had did not pay enough to make the service financially viable. | The company said the contracts it had did not pay enough to make the service financially viable. |
One to One specialises in home births, which means some women may have to give birth in hospital against their wishes. | One to One specialises in home births, which means some women may have to give birth in hospital against their wishes. |
Gemma's story: 'I'm heartbroken' | Gemma's story: 'I'm heartbroken' |
One of the women who is immediately affected by One to One's closure is Gemma Davies, who is 41 weeks pregnant and could go into labour at any time. | One of the women who is immediately affected by One to One's closure is Gemma Davies, who is 41 weeks pregnant and could go into labour at any time. |
The 35-year-old mother of two, from Warrington in Cheshire, said she had been left "heartbroken" by the announcement. | |
"I got no notice. My midwife rang on Monday to tell me what was happening. | "I got no notice. My midwife rang on Monday to tell me what was happening. |
"It now looks like I will have to give birth in hospital. | "It now looks like I will have to give birth in hospital. |
"But that is the last thing I wanted to do - I've had such a bad experience in hospital. | "But that is the last thing I wanted to do - I've had such a bad experience in hospital. |
"I was induced for my first child and it was horrible and then last year I had a miscarriage and again the care I received was not good enough. | "I was induced for my first child and it was horrible and then last year I had a miscarriage and again the care I received was not good enough. |
"I was delighted when I was able to choose to get my midwife care from One to One. | "I was delighted when I was able to choose to get my midwife care from One to One. |
"I have really got to know my midwife over the past few months - and now she has been snatched away at the last minute." | "I have really got to know my midwife over the past few months - and now she has been snatched away at the last minute." |
How many women are affected? | |
It is thought around 150 women due to give birth in the coming weeks are in a similar position although there are thought to be another 1,000 women who were on the company's books and receiving either ante-natal or post-natal support. | It is thought around 150 women due to give birth in the coming weeks are in a similar position although there are thought to be another 1,000 women who were on the company's books and receiving either ante-natal or post-natal support. |
Local NHS services will now be trying during the day to make alternative arrangements for them, with the firm due to cease providing care from 17:00 BST. | Local NHS services will now be trying during the day to make alternative arrangements for them, with the firm due to cease providing care from 17:00 BST. |
A spokeswoman for One to One said it was "extremely proud" of the care it has provided over the last nine years. | A spokeswoman for One to One said it was "extremely proud" of the care it has provided over the last nine years. |
But it said the "challenging NHS landscape" had left it with little choice. | But it said the "challenging NHS landscape" had left it with little choice. |
The service provided care to women across Cheshire and Merseyside as well as Colchester and Clacton in Essex. | The service provided care to women across Cheshire and Merseyside as well as Colchester and Clacton in Essex. |
A spokesman for the NHS said emergency protocols had been put in place and women affected would be contacted by a dedicated team. | A spokesman for the NHS said emergency protocols had been put in place and women affected would be contacted by a dedicated team. |
He said the "priority" was ensuring those affected were provided with support, but he said he could not guarantee that they would be able to have a home birth. | He said the "priority" was ensuring those affected were provided with support, but he said he could not guarantee that they would be able to have a home birth. |
Is there a wider problem for home births? | |
The collapse of One to One is the second community midwifery service to go under this year. | |
Neighbourhood Midwives, which provided services to women in the south east, closed in January. | |
In both cases the amount the NHS was prepared to pay for these services has been questioned by the providers. | |
Both services offered women dedicated care from a named midwife. | |
It raises questions about the viability of this form of one-to-one care that has been used by the health service to offer women more choice beyond traditional NHS-run services. | |
While not solely focussed on home births, many women who opt for care from these services do want a home birth. | |
There has been a drive to increase the number of home births. | |
But despite one in 10 pregnant women saying they would prefer one just over 2% of birth are at home. |