ICB Question Time - Wed 25th March
Subject: Public Question for ICB Board – Maternity Service Suspension and Governance
Dear Corporate Governance Team,
Please accept the following question for submission to the next public meeting of the Board of the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.
Question:
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust suspended planned home birth services on 17 November 2025, citing staffing pressures.
Freedom of Information responses from the Trust indicate that:
• the Trust had a significant underspend in its maternity staffing budget,
• the home birth suspension risk assessment is still going through governance processes before finalisation, and
• the Trust reports no recorded AEQUIP supervision or reflective governance documentation relating to maternity staffing safety for several years.
The Trust has also stated that demand for home birth locally is approximately six women per month, raising the question of whether alternative safe staffing models could have been used.
Independent midwives are registered professionals regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and have been contracted by other NHS Trusts across England to provide continuity of care where services face temporary staffing gaps.
Given the Integrated Care Board’s responsibility for commissioning safe maternity services, could the Board please clarify:
What oversight the ICB exercised over the decision to suspend planned home birth services in Gloucestershire.
Whether the ICB reviewed or approved any risk assessment prior to the suspension decision.
Whether the ICB considered the use of independent midwives or other alternative commissioning arrangements to maintain service provision.
What action the ICB is taking to ensure that service decisions comply with statutory duties under the National Health Service Act 2006, including the duty to involve the public in service changes.
Kind regards
Emma Gleave
From: "BRUNSDON, Ryan (NHS GLOUCESTERSHIRE ICB - 11M)" <ryan.brunsdon@nhs.net>
Subject: RE: Public Question for ICB Board – Maternity Service Suspension and Governance
Date: 13 March 2026 at 09:56:45 GMT
To: Emma's Antenatal - Info <info@emmasantenatal.com>
Cc: "GRADOWSKI, Christina (NHS GLOUCESTERSHIRE ICB - 11M)" <christina.gradowski@nhs.net>
Good Morning Emma,
Thank you for your email. This is confirmation that I have received the question and it has been passed onto the relevant team.
Kind Regards,
Ryan
Ryan Brunsdon
Governance Manager & Board Secretary,
Corporate Governance
NHS Gloucestershire