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North Yorkshire NHS trust bans elective Caesareans North Yorkshire NHS trust bans elective Caesareans
(about 1 hour later)
Hospital bosses in North Yorkshire have banned elective Caesarean sections in a move they say will reduce health risks for mothers and babies and save cash. Hospital bosses in North Yorkshire have banned elective Caesarean sections for non-medical reasons in a move they say will reduce health risks for mothers and babies and save cash.
North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) said 114 women had C-sections for non-medical reasons during the 2010-2011 financial year.North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) said 114 women had C-sections for non-medical reasons during the 2010-2011 financial year.
The trust said natural deliveries were safer for women and their babies.The trust said natural deliveries were safer for women and their babies.
C-sections were also more costly, it said, at £2,539 for a routine operation compared to £1,174 for a natural birth. C-sections were also more costly, the PCT said.
It said a routine C-section cost £2,539, compared to £1,174 for a natural birth.
There were a total of 1,738 Caesareans performed in North Yorkshire during the 2010-2011 financial year, at a cost of £5,210,258.There were a total of 1,738 Caesareans performed in North Yorkshire during the 2010-2011 financial year, at a cost of £5,210,258.
If the 114 women who had C-sections for non-medical reasons had had a natural birth instead, it would have saved the PCT £155,610.If the 114 women who had C-sections for non-medical reasons had had a natural birth instead, it would have saved the PCT £155,610.
'Not natural''Not natural'
Dr David Geddes, medical director for primary care, said women did not generally opt for Caesarean sections because of the higher risks involved.Dr David Geddes, medical director for primary care, said women did not generally opt for Caesarean sections because of the higher risks involved.
But where a woman was requesting to have a c-section with no medical reason he said the PCT "shouldn't be supporting that" because the procedure was more dangerous than natural childbirth.But where a woman was requesting to have a c-section with no medical reason he said the PCT "shouldn't be supporting that" because the procedure was more dangerous than natural childbirth.
Dr Geddes denied the move was simply a cost-cutting exercise.Dr Geddes denied the move was simply a cost-cutting exercise.
He said: "It's the reverse. it's about making sure the delivery of babies is done in as safe a way as possible.He said: "It's the reverse. it's about making sure the delivery of babies is done in as safe a way as possible.
"There's some concern about the frequency with which people are having Caesarean sections because Caesarean sections cause problems for the baby quite often."There's some concern about the frequency with which people are having Caesarean sections because Caesarean sections cause problems for the baby quite often.
"It's not a natural way for a baby to be born so therefore there are complications for the baby, there are certainly complications for a woman... and there are complications for subsequent deliveries and subsequent pregnancies as well."It's not a natural way for a baby to be born so therefore there are complications for the baby, there are certainly complications for a woman... and there are complications for subsequent deliveries and subsequent pregnancies as well.
"All in all it's something where there's a safer, natural alternative which is obviously what the medical profession would prefer to have.""All in all it's something where there's a safer, natural alternative which is obviously what the medical profession would prefer to have."