More standalone birth centres are needed

AT a recent public meeting, a representative of the UHL NHS Trust suggested that expectant mothers need to “demonstrate that they want a standalone birth centre”.

In my view, it is completely wrong to put that responsibility onto women, especially when many women are completely unaware of the possibility.

It doesn’t take much imagination to realise that what most expectant mothers want is to produce a healthy baby through a process which is as free from risk, trauma, complication, anxiety and pain as possible.

At such a crucial time, women need the professionals to provide them with the best possible advice and support to achieve that.

NICE guidelines stress that, where possible, women should be given a choice of setting – home, standalone birth centre, a midwife-led unit next to an obstetric unit or an obstetric unit (run by doctors) – following full, impartial and sympathetic advice and discussion with the experts.

Standalone birth centres are, of course, only suitable for low-risk women but it is vital that choice should be available to them, if they would like it. It is in their interests and in the interests of the NHS and of society as a whole I would suggest, that their babies are born with as few complications and as little unnecessary intervention as possible.

It is the responsibility of UHL NHS Trust to ensure that all four settings continue to be available to expectant mothers and that full information is available, as appropriate.

The plan to establish a new standalone birth centre in Leicester is very welcome. But it should be set up as a “flagship project”, with full support and without the threat of imminent closure.

Any trial should be for at least three years. The plan to close the highly successful and much appreciated St Mary’s birth centre in Melton would be highly irresponsible and a retrograde step.

We need more such centres, not fewer. Expectant mothers deserve the best.

Elizabeth Warren, Leicester