by Adam Williams

First-time mothers who choose a home birth are more likely to require hospital intervention before giving birth, according to a new study.

The report, published last week in the British Medical Journal and conducted by Oxford University, involved more than 65,500 births classified as low risk.

It urged women having their first babies to closely consider their options – taking into account their distance from hospital – when choosing where to give birth.

At a time when east Kent’s maternity services are undergoing a public consultation, many mothers-to-be face the prospect of extended journeys to hospital to give birth.

The preferred option put across by NHS Kent and Medway and East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is to stop births at Canterbury and Dover, open a midwife-led service at Margate’s QEQM Hospital and maintain a co-located service at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

At the same time, home births are expected to increase. Selling grandmother Lesley Ashby feels the BMJ report adds weight to locating services more centrally than Ashford and Margate.

She said: “Just draw a circle with a 15-mile radius around Ashford, Margate and Canterbury and it’s obvious which two locations ensure that services, emergency or otherwise, should be made available.

“The preferred option to continue providing home births makes it more important that hospitals are located centrally.

“I can’t understand the obsession with centralising facilities in Margate.

"From Selling, Canterbury is about eight miles away, Ashford 13 miles and Margate a good 25 miles.

“It’s less likely that this would happen if facilities are based at a central city hospital.”

Lindsey Stevens, head of midwifery for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said: “We will consider the report’s findings and recommendations along with the views of the community and all the other evidence we have gathered.

“We do anticipate an increase in home births under the three options and the hospitals trust is very clear that it has 12 community teams that can and do support home births, antenatal and postnatal care.

"We always advise women to consider journey times, and the impact this has on their family."

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