The economic costs of intrapartum care in Tower Hamlets: A comparison between the cost of birth in a freestanding midwifery unit and hospital for women at low risk of obstetric complications
Appropriately configured maternity care is important for inner-city areas. Freestanding midwifery unit and hospital care for ‘low risk' women was compared. Micro-costing of health care resource use was based on data in clinical notes. Intrapartum care in a midwifery unit may be cost-minimising compared to hospital. The financial viability of maternity units should be modelled at a local level.