Vol. 440 No. 4
338 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the level of usage of epidurals in Irish maternity hospitals in comparison to other EC countries; and if he has satisfied himself with the level of counselling given to women on the possible side effects.
While my Department collects data on the level of availability of epidurals in Irish hospitals, it does not collect data on the use of epidurals. Neither does the Department collect data on the level of usage of epidurals in other European Union countries.
Women are informed by their doctors of any possible side effects involved as a matter of course.
