Description
Under the National Health Service, every woman has the right to have her baby at home. However, in the face of government policies favouring 100% hospitalisation for birth, it is difficult, sometimes impossible to exercise one’s right to a home delivery. The film explores the issue through a series of interviews:
Judy, the midwife who gives in to pressure to have her first baby in hospital; Mike and Kathleen who persevere and stay at home; Beatrice, who has her fifth child at home with no medical assistance; and Evelyn Butler, a 60-year old midwife who retires from the National Health Service to start up as a private domicillary midwife. The film suggests that the issue is not so much about the place of birth as about the kind of control one has.
Made in 1983 this film reflects the cultural attitudes of the country and language of the time it was made. The issues raised are timeless. The film quality may not be to modern standards.
This programme can be rented on our Video on Demand system for £1.50 For this you can view as often as you like within a 48 hour period of your own choosing.
