A PRIVATE midwifery company has been suspended from providing home births while the quality and safety of its services are reviewed.

One to One Midwives (North West), based in Queensway, Crewe, operates under an NHS contract, though it is still a private company.

The NHS CCGs (Cheshire clinical commissioning groups) has decided to review the centre’s home birth services and has subsequently suspended them, a move that will effect numerous mums-to-be.

Ante and post-natal care will be unaffected.

Simon Whitehouse, chief executive for NHS South Cheshire CCG and NHS Vale Royal CCG, said: "Commissioning services that deliver high quality care to our patients is our top priority – the safety of mothers and babies is paramount when we are looking at home birth services.

"The CCGs are currently reviewing the home birth service provided by One-To-One (North West) Ltd in order to assure ourselves of both the quality and the safety aspects.

“Until this review has taken place we have agreed a partial suspension of the service until we have achieved the level of assurance required.

"As a result, the company will no longer be providing home births for patients, although ante and post-natal care will be unaffected.”

One to One Midwives set up a shop in Crewe in December 2014, but had been operating in the town for some time.

To access the service, patients can be referred through their GP or by asking their GP to refer them. They can also refer themselves. The NHS then pays for the care they receive.

All women affected by the suspension of the home birth services will be contacted directly by One to One (North West) Ltd. to discuss options for their on-going care.

"We would like to apologise to all of the women affected by this change and we do appreciate that this change may cause concern and be upsetting,” Mr Whitehouse said.

“However we would like to assure you that we have not taken this decision lightly.

“We believe that this action is needed to ensure quality and safe care is provided and we will be working with the company to undertake this review as quickly as possible.”

A spokesman for One to One Midwives said they are ‘extremely disappointed’ at the decision to suspend home birth services.

The spokesman said: “One to One Midwives have excellent outcomes for both safety and quality and we will continue to work alongside the CCG in relation to their review of our service.

“On completion of the review, we look forward to continuing to offer the excellent service we have previously.”

Anyone affected who have any concerns about the change is urged to contact NHS South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Vale Royal Clinical Commissioning Group Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 01270 275390.