Caesarean section rates are spiking and the figures are so noteworthy that NSW health minister, John Hatzistergos ordered an enquiry into what he described as the “alarming” caesarean section rate in NSW hospitals. In January this year he said, “The decision ultimately as to how a birth should be delivered is one which is to be made by the mother in consultation with her medical advisor. However I am concerned, particularly at the private level, that it appears to some extent the increased number of caesareans is accentuated by reasons that are not clinically based.
Reading between the lines, this points to a stronger likelihood of having a caesarean in a private hospital (note the “particularly at the private level”) and this fact is verified by the report that sparked Mr Hatzistergos’s publicly aired concern: New South Wales Mothers and Babies 2004 report which published the following eye-opening statistics:
• 13% of women in public hospitals had an elective caesarean section, compared to 23 per cent of women in private hospitals
• 18% of mothers in public hospitals who had a previous caesarean section went on to have a normal vaginal delivery with their next child, compared to only 8 per cent of mothers in private hospitals
• 25% less women in public hospitals had an epidural compared to women giving birth in private hospitals.
By focussing on the private versus public birth, the Minister has effectively thrown open up a highly charged debate, tabling the idea that your choice of health care provider can effect the outcome of your birth and the level of intervention brought to bear on the proceedings. Looking at the figures, it seems not only is a caesarean more likely of you choose private health care, but intervention of some description is almost the norm."
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