Concern over number of Caesarean births
A new report by the influential Commons health select committee has suggested that pregnant women should no longer be able to choose to have a Caesarean on the NHS. MPs suggested that in many cases Caesarean births are a waste of NHS resources and an unnecessary risk to mothers and their babies.
Almost one in four births in the UK is currently delivered by Caesarean section. However the report says that they should only take place when ‘medically or psychologically necessary’. The World Health Organization recommends that only 10% of births should be performed in this way.
The government has pledged to reduce the figure both for the safety of mother and child and because a Caesarean birth costs the NHS in the region of £760 more than a natural birth. The risk with a caesarean birth is low, but the risks are greater than a natural birth as it is a major operation. Caesareans are more likely to lead to infections and future infertility problems and require a longer recovery time than normal births.
The report stated: ‘We were concerned to hear that basic good practice guidelines for reducing caesareans are not always put into place – for example mothers of breech babies are not offered a technique to try and turn the baby around. Keeping to basic good practice guidelines like these should reduce unnecessary caesareans by at least 5%.’
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is drawing up new guidelines for doctors, which will advise them on when they can carry out Caesareans. These guidelines are due out early next year.
