Rise in NHS birth centre closures ‘shocking’ denial of women’s rights, experts say

The Guardian Politics Saturday 07 November 2026, 17:00 UTC By Denis Campbell Health policy editor 1 min read

Key Points

Twelve midwife-led maternity units have closed in England since 2019 with six closing since Labour came to power in 2024NHS officials are shutting growing numbers of birth centres in a “shocking” denial of a woman’s right to have a midwife rather than a doctor oversee their baby’s birth, say campaigners. Twelve birth centres – midwife-led maternity units – have closed in England since 2019. Birth centres play a key role in ensuring that women can choose whether to have their baby at a unit...

Twelve midwife-led maternity units have closed in England since 2019 with six closing since Labour came to power in 2024

NHS officials are shutting growing numbers of birth centres in a “shocking” denial of a woman’s right to have a midwife rather than a doctor oversee their baby’s birth, say campaigners.

Twelve birth centres – midwife-led maternity units – have closed in England since 2019. Birth centres play a key role in ensuring that women can choose whether to have their baby at a unit in a hospital run by doctors, at one where midwives are in charge, or at home.

NHS (ORG) England (LOCATION) Labour (ORG)

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Rise in NHS birth centre closures ‘shocking’ denial of women’s rights, experts say

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Rise in NHS birth centre closures ‘shocking’ denial of women’s rights, experts say

Rise in NHS birth centre closures ‘shocking’ denial of women’s rights, experts say