NHS birth centre closures grow; campaigners say women’s choice eroded
Six units shut permanently under Labour; temporary closures and home birth suspensions add to concerns
Campaigners say women’s right to choose where to give birth is being eroded by a wave of NHS birth centre closures in England, with 12 midwife-led units shut since 2019 and others closed temporarily for years. The closures are being driven by workforce shortages, a falling birthrate and rising birth complexity.