A dispute between home birth advocates and the Bermuda Medical Council continued yesterday after the Ministry of Health declared that the issue boils down to “safe versus unsafe birth conditions”.

Advocates have vowed to formally present Permanent Secretary Kevin Monkman with a letter of protest, calling it a basic right to have access to a registered midwife from overseas.

In a statement, Government pledged “vigorous efforts” to obtain a “competent registered midwife” in the short term — but has insisted that “well-meaning lay persons” are “uninformed” of the safety issues.

Ministry officials convened a meeting on Wednesday with healthcare workers, including nurse midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians, and regulators to discuss “safer options for home births in Bermuda”.

It follows protests by parents at the denial of Immigration approval for two midwives, on the basis that no doctor is available to supervise the home births.

According to Government, the local medical community is “strongly in agreement” that births must be attended by “proficient and competent registered healthcare professionals”.

“We feel that this is not a matter of where the birth occurs, but rather what provisions for safe birth have been made,” the statement continued.

“The issue is not home birth versus hospital birth, but rather safe birth versus unsafe birth conditions.”

A number of local families are anticipating births next month.

Citing a “zero tolerance” for mortality in childbirth, the Ministry statement said any midwives used would have to be held to existing registration standards.

Calling on expectant families to consider safety foremost, the statement added that there are “safe alternatives that can accommodate many of your needs for a natural birth experience in the healthcare setting”.

“In the absence of a competent registered healthcare professional, women in labour should go to the hospital and be cared for in that setting where such personnel will be readily available. It is the responsibility of families to assure that birth conditions offer the best chance of a healthy baby and mother.”