Women take fight for home births to High Court

WOMEN refused a home birth service are going to the Supreme Court next week to fight a High Court decision which exempts health boards from funding the service.

Section 62 of the 1970 Health Act requires health boards to provide "medical, surgical, and midwifery services without charge to all expectant mothers", but last year the High Court ruled that this did not oblige health boards to provide home birth services.

However, four women refused a home birth service are to challenge this finding next Tuesday.