Auckland Hospital maternity letter telling women to consider home birth/Birthcare: ‘Disturbing’ or ‘long-overdue’?

Auckland Hospital’s invitation for women to consider giving birth at home or at a primary care facility has divided opinion, with one expert labelling the initiative inappropriate and “disturbing”. The Weekend Herald revealed on Saturday women booked to give birth at the hospital are being told to expect to be sent to Birthcare or home within three to four hours . Those who are concerned about the communication include Peter Stone, an emeritus professor in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Auckland’s School of Medicine.

“It’s really trying to persuade people to reconsider a plan of care that they may have already decided upon, after consideration. I don’t think it’s the place of an authority to do that,” he said. “It is actually saying, ‘You need to consider giving birth somewhere else’.

I think it is really inappropriate ...

I find the letter disturbing because I think it undermines confidence in the maternity system that we have.”.