Women and families across Gloucestershire will soon have more options for where they give birth, as the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed the return of home birth services and the reopening of Cheltenham Birth Centre. A new countywide Community Birth Team will support these services, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Home birth services will restart on 4 January 2027, supported by the new Community Birth Team. From December 2026, women will be able to discuss plans for a home birth with their midwife. Cheltenham Birth Centre will reopen on 1 February 2027, restoring another birth choice. Women can continue to choose Stroud Maternity as their place of birth, which will also be provided by the new Community Birth Team from 4 January.
Home births were suspended in October 2025 due to safety concerns, and Cheltenham Birth Centre has been closed since 2022 due to staffing issues. The Trust acknowledges the confirmed dates are later than initially planned, stating the additional time allows for thorough practical preparations for the new countywide model.
The new Community Birth Team will provide labour and birth care across community birth settings, including home births, Stroud Maternity, and Cheltenham Birth Centre. Care will be planned according to individual preferences and clinical needs, ensuring safe and high-quality provision. Services at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's Delivery Suite and Gloucestershire Birth Unit remain unchanged.
“"We know how important choice about where to give birth is to women and families, so I am pleased that home births are being restored from 4 January 2027 and our Cheltenham Birth Centre will reopen from 1 February 2027."
Matt Holdaway, Chief Nurse, apologised for the extended wait and stated that recruitment, onboarding, training, staffing, and operational preparations are progressing. He emphasised that each phase will only commence once the Trust is confident in providing safe, high-quality care.
