Home births temporarily halted due to staff illness - trust

The East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has paused its home birth program for a 24-hour period following a notable surge in staff sickness. The suspension will last until 07:00 GMT on Saturday.

The trust reported that, although many staff members are affected by flu and other seasonal illnesses, the midwifery team overall remains "strong and sustainable."

A spokesperson confirmed that all expectant mothers who might be affected have been individually notified, and no planned births have been disrupted.

"We have had to temporarily suspend home births across our service area for one day," the trust stated. "This includes births at the Eastbourne Maternity Unit (EMU), managed by our home birth team, though no deliveries were scheduled there today."

The suspension is described as a short-term precaution, and all other maternity services will continue as normal on Saturday. The trust emphasized that, despite the high absence rate, available midwives are being flexibly deployed to maintain safe care for patients.

Author: Riley Thompson