What's Happening to Homebirth Services in Kent?

Locally in Kent there are informal restrictions on NHS homebirth services. Whilst the service hasn’t been formally suspended and the East Kent Hospitals website says that they do offer homebirth, we know from experience that it’s frequently disrupted meaning that it really is down to luck as to whether there will be midwives available to support you to have a homebirth.

Why are services being suspended?

Homebirth services are usually disrupted or suspended due to staffing shortages. Our local Trust doesn’t have a dedicated homebirth team and instead relies on two community midwives assigned to be on-call every day to attend anybody planning a homebirth. However, if the hospital is short staffed the on-call midwives can be pulled into the unit to support staffing there, which means that the homebirth service cannot run. If one of the community midwives is sick (life happens!) then the homebirth service also cannot run. There always has to be two midwives available to keep the homebirth service running in East Kent - and this will be the case nationally too. During the covid pandemic there were national issues with homebirth services suspended due to ambulance shortages, as in this scenario there was no safe way of transferring to hospital in the event of a true obstetric or neonatal emergency.

Is This Just Happening Locally - or Is It a Wider Problem?

What the Birthrights 2025 Access Denied report tells us

Homebirth suspensions and/or restrictions are not unique to Kent. Birthrights published a report into homebirth services in 2025, called Access Denied. They looked at data between October 2023 and November 2024 from 119 NHS trusts that responded to a freedom of information (FOI) request. They found that 66% of Trusts had service suspensions, strict restrictions or frequent interruptions in their homebirth services. Some Trusts had applied blanket suspensions of homebirth services, ranging from two months to four years. The report paints a pretty dismal picture of homebirth services in the UK, highlighting that women and birthings people's choices about where they wish to give birth are limited.

The scale of the NHS midwifery shortage in England

According to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in the UK there is a shortage of around 2500 full time midwives - a number which has remained consistent for over a decade. Even more worrying is the news that newly qualified midwives are struggling to get jobs, with 31% unable to find a job. Maternity has long been underfunded and as long as it remains so, we’ll continue to see these staffing issues which have a direct impact on the care that women, birthing people and their babies receive.

Do You Still Have the Right to a Home Birth?

What the law says about your right to choose where you give birth

Human rights law protects your right to bodily autonomy and allows you the right to make choices about the circumstances in which you give birth. This includes where you plan to give birth. Birthrights have excellent information on your right to choose where you give birth, which you can access here.

What happens when your NHS Trust suspends services - can they do that?

NHS Trusts can suspend homebirth services. The NHS doesn’t by law have to provide a homebirth service - but they are expected to. Homebirth services should only be suspended if a Trust has explored all other options for keeping the service open (e.g. this could include using independent midwives) and where the decision is considered proportionate - although that is open to subjectivity.

Your Options When NHS Home Birth Isn't Available in Kent

What is an independent midwife and how is it different from NHS care?

As independent (or private) midwives, we are hired by women and birthing people to provide midwifery care throughout pregnancy, birth and into the early postnatal period. We are NMC registered midwives who have undergone the same formal university training, but who have chosen to work outside and alongside the NHS system. Like all midwives, independent midwives must abide by the NMC Code of Conduct. A couple of the key differences between independent midwifery and NHS care is that we are not bound by hospital policies and we have significantly more time to spend with clients. This time allows us to go through all your options, supporting you to make the choices that feel right for you. If you’re curious about working with us, why not book a free intro chat?

The benefits of continuity of care with a known midwife

Research shows that continuity of care from a known midwife results in better outcomes for women and babies. We love working in this way because it allows us to really get to know each other, to build trust and to support you in the best way possible so that you have a positive pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience.

Some of the benefits of continuity of care include:

• More likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth
• Less likely to experience an instrumental birth
• Less likely to experience a caesarean birth
• May be less likely to experience an episiotomy
• More likely to have a positive experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum

Can you still access NHS care alongside an independent midwife?

You’re still entitled to access NHS care alongside an independent midwife. What this can look like is having ultrasound scans or blood tests via the NHS in pregnancy or it might be having a consultation with an obstetrician or giving birth in an NHS hospital, supported by us.

What about freebirth?

You’re legally allowed to choose to freebirth your baby. Freebirth (or unassisted birth) means giving birth without the attendance of any medically trained professionals i.e. a midwife or a doctor. Many people who choose freebirth will have doula support. Freebirth is a valid choice and some people will know in their heart and soul that it’s the right choice for them, other people may feel like it’s their only option if there are no homebirth services available locally or if they’re unable to access independent / private midwifery care. Read more about your rights relating to freebirth here.

What to Look for When Choosing an Independent Midwife

Questions to ask any independent/private midwife

You need to find out if your values align with that of the midwife. For example, is your midwife comfortable to support you if you choose care ‘outside of guidelines’? Other useful things to ask might include, what’s their experience of homebirth transfer? How do they manage emergencies at home? How can they be contacted? Who do they use as their ‘second’ midwife for births?

How to check a midwife is registered and insured

You’re able to check that a midwife is registered by searching the NMC register - you can do this using their first and last name, or you can ask them for their unique PIN to search the register. If a midwife is providing only antenatal and postnatal care, they can access insurance via the Royal College of Nursing and will be registered with them. If they are providing labour and birth care they are legally required to have insurance and currently the only way to access insurance as an independent midwife is through being Zest registered.

Why location matters - and what areas we cover from Folkestone

We are happy to travel up to an hour from Folkestone. We don’t generally travel further than this to ensure that we can make it to births that are happening quickly! Areas we cover include: Folkestone, Hythe, Dover, Deal, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Whitstable, Canterbury, Ashford, Maidstone, Herne Bay, Faversham, Rye and all the little Kent villages in between!

What Should You Do Right Now If Your Home Birth Has Been Suspended?

Step 1: Confirm the current situation with your NHS Trust

You need to find out if your NHS Trust has suspended their homebirth services and how long they’re anticipated to be suspended. It’s not uncommon that the first time you hear of a suspension of services is when you are actually in labour. This is what we hear is happening in our local area.

Step 2: Know your rights and how to challenge restrictions

You have the right to choose a homebirth - even if services are suspended. You can ask to speak to the Head of Midwifery and find out if using independent midwives has been explored as an option to support homebirths in the area. Zest, the company that enables access to our insurance, have recently created a useful template letter that you can use to challenge homebirth service restrictions in your area.

Step 3: Explore your alternatives early - don't wait

If you know early in your pregnancy that you want a homebirth you need to consider your options if the NHS homebirth services are suspended. Would you consider using a midwife-led unit (MLU) if there were no homebirth services? (With the understanding that MLU’s are also sometimes closed due to staffing issues). Have a chat with your local independent midwife - they’re the only way to guarantee access to home birth with midwife support. If you’re based in Kent, we offer free intro chats so you can find out more about what we offer - book yours here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Birth in Kent

• Is home birth currently available on the NHS in East Kent?

According to their website, yes. In our experience the service is frequently disrupted due to staffing issues.

• Can I have a home birth with an independent midwife even if the NHS has suspended its service?

You can have a homebirth with an independent midwife, however the latest we generally book clients is 36 weeks. So if it’s looking likely that an NHS homebirth won’t be possible, it’s worth getting in touch with us sooner rather than later.

• What happens if I go into labour and the NHS can't send a midwife?

You have the option to transfer to a midwife-led unit or a labour ward. Some women or birthing people in this scenario will choose to freebirth. You will generally be advised to call an ambulance - particularly if birth is imminent or the baby has just been born. Some people will do this and other people will choose not to. In an emergency, paramedics and ambulances are great, however childbirth is not usually an emergency. Some people find that inviting paramedics into their home can cause stress and anxiety and would prefer not to. Some people will request that a community midwife comes out to them after their baby is born to notify the birth and do postnatal checks.

• How much does an independent midwife cost in Kent?

Full care throughout your whole pregnancy with us costs £8500 and we offer payment plans to help spread the cost. Find out more about our care packages.

• Can I still use the NHS for antenatal scans if I hire a private midwife?

Yes - you’re still entitled to use NHS services even if you hire an independent/private midwife.