Manx Care: Home births 'cannot be offered as standard'

Legislation to say service 'may' be offered, rather than 'shall'

Home births on the Isle of Man cannot currently be offered as 'standard'.

That's from Manx Care, following a report which found the Department of Health and Social Care breached its legal obligations by not offering women the option to give birth at home.

A statement, from both Manx Care and the DHSC, says the provision of a more flexible service will require more midwives.

However this parent, who spoke to Manx Radio anonymously after their partner was denied a home birth, believes it isn't a staffing issue:

The DHSC says it will be 'looking to revise the legislation, so that the planned home birth provision 'may' be offered, rather than 'shall'.'

The statement in full, is as follows:

'We recognise that home birth is a choice that many women may wish to consider, and in an ideal world every expectant family would be offered a range of birthing options.

However, in order to ensure that Manx Care is providing a safe and suitable maternity service for everyone, home births cannot currently be offered as standard.

The provision of this more flexible service would require more Midwives.

The safety of women and their babies is our primary concern, and our services reflect this. As the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Manx Care develop future policy, the focus will continue to be on ensuring patient safety whilst delivering a modern and responsive health service.

The DHSC has no intention of mandating that Manx Care always include home births when developing birthing plans; In practice home births have never been offered as standard on the Isle of Man - despite the wording of the current legislation.

In order to resolve this, the DHSC will be looking to revise the legislation, so that the planned home birth provision 'may' be offered, rather than 'shall'.

This does not remove the option of home births from the current maternity services, and would not prevent home births happening (which would be dependent upon safe staffing).

The change would ensure that there is no legal breach, while allowing Manx Care to develop their future maternity services, offering home births where appropriate and manageable.'