§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many births have been induced in each hospital within the area of the Kent Area Health Authority in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of the total births in each year in these hospitals these figures represent.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that the information requested is not available centrally and could not be extracted locally except with a disproportionate amount of time and effort being spent by Kent Area Health Authority.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many births have been induced in each of the London Teaching Hospitals in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of total births in these hospitals in each year these figures represent.
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§ Dr. OwenWe cannot supply this information in the form requested as there is no analysis of induced births distinguishing between London and provincial teaching hospitals available centrally. Estimates of induced births for all teaching hospitals in England and Wales for the year 1964–72—the latest year available—are as follows:
Year Estimated number of Induced Births Percentage of all Births 1964 9,300 15.8 1965 10,300 17.3 1966 12,300 20.2 1967 13,800 23.2 1968 16,300 25.1 1969 16,700 25.2 1970 18,900 29.4 1971 18,100 31.7 1972 19,700 33.5 This data was derived from the Hospital In-patient Inquiry, in a 1-in-10 sample of all deaths and discharges from non-psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales, and refers to deaths and discharges from obstetric departments and GP maternity units combined.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps her Department is taking to increase the knowledge of methods that enable women to have their babies consciously and without drugs.
§ Dr. OwenSince needs and preferences of women in childbirth vary it would not be appropriate for me to give prominence to any one particular approach. I would expect the professional staff concerned to discuss with expectant mothers the likely mode of delivery, and the need for drugs when these are indicated.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the statistics relating to Birmingham area hospitals concerning the use of induced labour techniques for each hospital, for each of the past 10 years, stating what percentage these births formed of total births in each hospital and the numbers of babies placed into intensive care units for each type of birth; and if she will make available comparative figures for Great Britain.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that most of the information requested is not readily available228W However the numbers of hospital births induced and the percentage these formed of the total births in England and Wales for each of the last ten years are given below
Year Estimated number of induced hospital births Percentage of total hospital births 1963 78,400 13.7 1964 81,600 13.4 1965 90,000 14.6 1966 111,300 17.5 1967 142,600 22.3 1968 148,400 22.9 1969 168,600 25.1 1970 184,500 27.2 1971 208,300 29.6 1972 214,100 31.5