Women's Decision-Making And Factors Affecting Their Choice Of ...

The Short report (1980)
The Short report was a name given to the House of Commons Social
Services Committee report under the chairmanship of Mrs Renee Short. The
committee took over and completed work begun by an earlier committee, to
perform an inquiry into perinatal and neonatal mortality. The Social Services and
Employment Sub-Committee, that was originally going to do the inquiry, was
prompted to do so by increasing public concern that babies were unnecessarily
dying or suffering permanent damage during late pregnancy and early infancy
(House of Commons Social Services Committee 1980). The committee was also
worried that the mortality rates in England and Wales were falling more slowly
than in other developed countries. In addition, there were wide differences in
mortality rates found in different socio-economic groups and different areas in
England and Wales (para 1).
The investigation embraced a number of aspects of maternity care,
including the question of place of birth. Evidence was received from mothers,
Royal College of Midwives, and the Royal College of Obstetrics and
Gynaecologists. Evidence from women, who are the consumers of the service,
showed that they were in favour of delivering at home or in GP units (para 53-54).
Women in the study were described as having strong views, and that it was not
only the middle-class that had such strong views. On the other hand, the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists argued that GP units did not meet the
college's minimum standards for safety.
When the committee made their recommendations, women's views did not
carry much weight. The committee felt that "...the understandable preferences of
mothers in regard to place of delivery may not be compatible with the
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