Vol. 512 No. 7
74 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether the 24.2% of births delivered by caesarean section in the Rotunda hospital in 1999 is excessive; the national guidelines, if any, in place on the conduct of caesarean sections; if differing hospital policies account for different rates of this procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27077/99]
The Rotunda Hospital 1998 annual report indicates that the number of mothers delivered by caesarean section in the hospital in 1998 was 24.2%. In a recent national survey carried out by the Rotunda Hospital, the caesarean section rates ranged from 12% to 26%. Data supplied to the hospital would indicate a national caesarean section rate in 1998 as 18.4%. In 1980 the national section rate was in the order of 6.2%. As can be seen, there is increasing demand from patients at national level to be delivered by caesarean section. The notion of a "correct caesarean section rate" does not exist and very many reasons influence what a hospital's caesarean section rate may be. The policy of the Rotunda Hospital, and indeed every maternity unit in this country, is to provide a high quality service and care to both mother and baby based on best medical practice and clinical management against a background of an excellent anaesthetic service. Advances in regional analgesia and the applications of these advances have made a high caesarean section rate in the Rotunda safe to mother and baby and acceptable to patients.
