Part Six: Health facilities and services

Birthing centres are health facilities in which midwives, under the conditions set out in articles L. 4151-1 and L. 4151-4 relating to the practice of their profession, give birth to women whose pregnancies they have monitored. Birthing centres are part of a diversified range of health care services to ensure that women have the choice of childbirth best suited to their needs. Midwives are responsible for the medical management of…

Birth centres are created and managed by: 1° Several midwives associated for their professional practice or for the pooling of resources necessary for this practice; 2° A not-for-profit organisation other than a health establishment; 3° A public interest group, an economic interest group or a health cooperation group.

In addition to the activities referred to in article L. 6323-4, birth centres may: 1° Carry out public health, prevention and therapeutic education initiatives, in particular with a view to promoting access to women’s rights; 2° Provide places for training courses, where appropriate at university level, for midwives.

Projects for the creation of a birth centre are subject to authorisation by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency. Authorisation is granted for a renewable period of seven years. Authorisation is granted when the project meets the needs of the population and ensures compliance with the operating conditions set out in article L. 6323-4-4.

The technical conditions under which birthing centres operate are laid down by decree. The care given to women and newborn babies complies with the recommendations for good professional practice drawn up by the French National Authority for Health.

Where it is established that there has been a breach compromising the quality or safety of care, a failure to comply with the legislative and regulatory provisions relating to birth centres, or in the event of abuse or fraud with regard to social security bodies or insured persons, the Director General of the Regional Health Agency shall have the powers and implement the procedure provided for in article L. 6323-1-12…

Unless otherwise provided, the terms and conditions for the application of this chapter shall be laid down by decree in the Conseil d’Etat.