Jersey's home birth service paused by health bosses as internal review is completed

Expectant mothers in Jersey are currently unable to choose to have their baby at home following the health service's decision to conduct an internal review.

The island's home birth service supported 34 home births in 2023 and nine in 2024 before being temporarily paused on 14 October.

On the decision to freeze the service, Ros Bullen-Bell, Director of Midwifery, said: "Although the home birth service is temporarily paused, while we conduct an internal review, we remain fully committed to reinstating it promptly once the review is completed and we have implemented any enhancements needed to further improve the service.

"I want to reassure expectant parents that our team is dedicated to supporting them in achieving their desired birth experience within our recently re-opened Maternity Unit, which features a dedicated Midwife-Led Unit."

A spokesperson for Health add that decisions like this one is standard practice and the review will assess protocols, training and resources.

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