Fears of caesarean section ban

There are fears that cash-strapped NHS trusts are ‘banning’ caesarean sections in a bid to save money.

Reports are circulating that a number of trusts are imposing the surgery ban unless the pregnant woman’s health is at risk.

However, trusts are saying that no ‘ban’ is in place, caesarean section policy has not changed and NICE guidelines, issued in 2004, are being followed.    

The fears come after it was revealed that caesareans now account for a quarter of all births in the UK.

And economic and financial experts claimed that a 1% drop in the surgery would save the NHS an estimated £5.6m a year.

Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, which represents primary care trusts, said when it comes to treatments that have less money spent on them, caesarean sections ‘may be one’.

It has been reported that the ban is in place in primary care trusts in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Herefordshire, Bristol, South Staffordshire, County Durham, Dorset, Derbyshire, and Bournemouth and Poole.

But a Department of Health spokesperson said: ‘Current NICE guidelines are that all clinical interventions, including elective caesarean section, are only performed if there is clinical evidence of expected benefits to the mother or baby.

‘A consultant must be involved when deciding whether to undertake a caesarean as the safety of mother and baby is of paramount importance.’

The spokesperson added that efficiency savings should not be seen as budget and service cuts.
 
Sue Jacob, midwife teacher at the RCM, said: ‘Whilst we are concerned about the number of caesarean sections, we don’t support a total ban – every woman needs to be considered as an individual case.’

She added that any policy changes should be ‘informed decisions’ and not cost-cutting exercises.