Advice from Maternity Services during industrial action

The ambulance service have stated that “Confirmed obstetric emergencies will continue to be responded to, but there are likely to be delays in response.”

For this reason individual Trusts in South Yorkshire will be contacting all people who are planning home births over this time. We wish to continue to support choice, but recognise a potential increase in risk given that there are likely to be delays to ambulances responding to emergency situations. We will therefore be recommending that during this time people choose to birth in a hospital unit where there are appropriate safety nets. We will however continue to support home birth if people choose this option. Women and birthing people should contact their individual Trust maternity triage services as usual.