Under new legislation, homebirth eligibility is determined by criteria created by the HSE and State Claims Agency and falls into 3 categories (i) eligible (ii) un-eligible (iii) eligibility is uncertain and must be determined
by a consultant obstetrician The Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Dr Sam Coulter - Smith, informed the HSE last week that they were no longer prepared to approve women for maternity care under the HSE Home Birth Service, following unease within the consultant body to engage in this process.
At the exclusive Lindo Wing, the duchess's labour was overseen
by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe - Beeston, surgeon - gynaecologist to the household, and consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon - gynaecologist - part of the trusted team who delivered George and Charlotte.
Steering group — This study was planned and coordinated
by Jean Davies, research midwife, Newcastle; Pat Davies, health visitor, Sunderland; Alan Fortune, general practitioner, Alnwick; Linda Hedley, senior midwife, Berwick; Edmund Hey,
consultant paediatrician, Newcastle; Barbara Hinchcliffe, health visitor, Hexham; Maureen Hodgson, community midwife, North Durham; Ann Kirkpatrick, midwifery supervisor, Darlington; Jane Lumley, National Childbirth Trust, Hexham; Norma McPherson, community midwife, Barrow in Furness; Diane Packham, Association for the Improvement of Maternity Services, Newcastle; Willie Reid,
consultant obstetrician, Carlisle; Marjorie Renwick, regional maternity survey coordinator, Newcastle; Margaret Robinson, community midwife, Cockermouth; Laura Robson, director of midwifery education, Newcastle; Sheila Smithson, community midwife, Middlesbrough; Ann West, senior midwife, Penrith; Margaret Whyte, the Society to Support Home Confinement; Jane Wright, community midwife, Teesside; and Gavin Young, general practitioner, Penrith.