# NHS birth centre closures deny women's right to choose

> Twelve midwife-led maternity units have closed in England since 2019, with six shutting since Labour took power, forcing women to travel further for birth.
- Title: NHS birth centre closures deny women's right to choose
- Summary: Twelve midwife-led maternity units have closed in England since 2019, with six shutting since Labour took power, forcing women to travel further for birth.
- Keywords: nhs, birth centres, maternity services, midwifery, women's rights, england, labour government, midwife shortages, home birth services, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/society/2026/nov/07/nhs-birth-centre-maternity-unit-closures-england-womens-rights
- Published: 2026-11-07T17:00:16+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: nhs, birth centres, maternity services, midwifery, women's rights, england, labour government, midwife shortages, home birth services, news, world
## Twelve birth centres closed since 2019
Twelve midwife-led maternity units have shut in England since 2019. Six closed permanently since Labour came to power in July 2024. Four others closed temporarily but have not reopened for up to six years.
## Two more centres face extended closure
Two birth centres closed because their host hospitals are falling apart and will remain out of action for several years until new facilities are built.
## Home birth services also suspended
NHS bodies in England and Wales are suspending home birth services for up to fourteen months, further restricting women's choice of where to give birth.
## Why are centres closing?
Closures are driven by NHS-wide midwife shortages, falling birthrates, growing complexity of childbirth and rising caesarean sections. NHS bodies say they lack midwives to staff services safely.
## Six permanent closures under Labour
Birth centres have permanently closed in Rossendale, east Lancashire; Edgware in north London; Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire; Stafford and Lichfield in Staffordshire; and Pontefract in West Yorkshire.
## Campaigners call closures a denial of rights
Hazel Williams, chief executive of Birthrights, said closures restrict women's right to choose what happens to their bodies and birth. These are not luxury options but fundamental rights.

> These are not luxury options or nice-to-haves. This is about women and birthing people's right to choose what happens to their bodies and their birth.
## Long-term temporary closures raise concerns
Huddersfield birth centre closed temporarily in November 2020 due to Covid-19 but has not reopened six years later. Ingleside in Salford has been shut since January 2022, also described as temporary.
## Crowborough centre halted by staff shortages
Midwife-led births at Crowborough birth centre in east Sussex were halted temporarily in October 2025 because staff shortages meant it kept closing at short notice. The trust declined to say what reopening would involve.
## MP accuses trust of breaking promises
Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, said the NHS trust had broken numerous promises to review reopening. Women travelling up to ninety minutes to give birth face avoidable complications.
## One centre to reopen, others at risk
Gloucester hospitals trust announced Cheltenham birth centre will reopen in February after shutting since 2022. But up to twenty consultant-led maternity units at acute hospitals may close to keep women safe.
## Health secretary to publish action plan
Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, is due to publish an action plan to address the crisis in maternity and neonatal care in England before Christmas.
## Key takeaway

Twelve NHS birth centres have closed since 2019, with six since July 2024, restricting women's choice of where to give birth and forcing longer journeys.