England loses 12 birth centres since 2019 as campaigners warn of choice erosion

Since 2019, 12 midwife-led maternity units have closed across England, with six of those closures happening after Labour took office in 2024. Campaigners describe the trend as a denial of women's right to choose a midwife-led birth rather than a hospital delivery supervised by doctors. Birth centres offer an alternative between home births and doctor-run hospital units, and their reduction limits options for expectant mothers. Why it matters: fewer birth centres could mean less access to midwife-led care for families who prefer that model, narrowing the range of choices available during childbirth.

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