A full-time home birth service is “not feasible” in Jersey, the Health Minister has confirmed – as he clarified that financial considerations were “not the determining factor” in the decision to suspend the service.

In a letter to the Health scrutiny panel, Deputy Tom Binet said that “it is important to highlight that a fully operational, 24/7 home birth service, 365 days a year, is not feasible”.

He was was responding to a letter from chief Health scrutineer Deputy Louise Doublet which asked the Minister to clarify what steps are being taken to ensure the choice to have a home birth is “protected and promoted” in Jersey.

It comes after the island’s home birth service was suspended in October to carry out an internal review of protocols, staff training, and resources.

Deputy Binet explained: “A final decision on the reinstatement of the service will be made by the Chief Officer upon completion of the review and training process.

“The review is already underway, with all required actions currently being implemented and progressing as planned.”

The Health Minister also admitted that there are have been other periods in recent years where the home birth service provision has been “inconsistent”.

“Staffing shortages and increased demand within the maternity unit have occasionally resulted in the temporary suspension of the home birth service, limiting its availability at times,” he said.

“The current review aims to establish what might be possible in relation to the future provision of home birth services.”

Deputy Doublet had also asked the Health Minister outline the “comparative costs” of different birth options – including an elective caesarean section, an emergency caesarean section, a home birth, and a hospital birth.

But the Health Minister said that it is “challenging to provide precise figures due to the highly individualised nature of maternity care”.

He instead provided NHS cost estimates, which revealed that each home birth costs around £2,800.

“It is important to clarify that financial considerations were not the determining factor in the decision to suspend the home birth service,” added Deputy Binent.

He said: “While home birth is a recognised and appropriate option for low-risk pregnancies, we must balance this with the need to ensure the provision of round-the-clock maternity care across all services.

“Given Jersey’s unique position as an island, we do not have the option to divert maternity care to another hospital, meaning we must allocate resources to ensure safe care for all women, not just those opting for home births.”

Deputy Binet also revealed that there has been a recent increase in people “requesting home births outside of clinical guidelines”.

“This has necessitated increased support, clinical input, and decision-making to ensure the safety of both mother and baby remains the priority,” he explained.

The Health Minister concluded: “We recognise the strong public interest in home birth services, and this review will determine the most appropriate way forward in delivering this option as part of Jersey’s maternity services.”

Deputy Binet added that the Director of Midwifery is available to meet with any islander who wishes to discuss the home birth service, raise concerns, or provide feedback as part of the ongoing review.

You can read his full letter online.