§ Mrs. Ann Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase there has been in the number of induced births in the North-West because of the doctors' dispute.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will pub- 524W lish the result of her Department's inquiries into induced childbirth.
§ Dr. OwenAs I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 11th December—[Vol. 902, c.330–1.]—this report by officials on a series of visits to maternity units was primarily prepared for use within the Department and was not intended for general publication. I have, however, arranged for a copy of it to be placed in the Library.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many births in Northampton have been induced for medical reasons in the past 12 months;
(2) how many births have been induced for convenience reasons in Northampton during the past 12 months.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that the information requested is not immediately available, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report up-to-date figures on induced childbirth.
§ Dr. OwenIn 1972, the latest year for which figures are so far available, the estimated number of induced births in England and Wales was 214,100, which represented 31.5 per cent. of the total births in that year.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the names of those outside bodies or persons who are advising her and reporting to her on induced childbirth; and whether the information will be publicly available.
§ Dr. OwenIn compiling its recent report on induced births the Department had discussions with both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the National Childbirth Trust. Subsequently the relevant statutory advisory bodies—namely, the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee, and the Central Health Services Council—considered and commented on this report. I have also commissioned a full 525W scientific survey into attitudes to childbirth by the Institute of Social Studies in Medical Care, from which I hope to receive further information next year on this question.
As well as taking part in discussions with the Department the National Childbirth Trust also submitted written comment. Publication of its comments is not the responsibility of the Department, but I understand that it was made available to the Press. I fully expect that the results of the study by the Institute of Social Studies in Medical Care will be published.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when a decision is to be taken by her Department about the increasing practice of induced childbirth.
§ Dr. OwenMy hon. Friend assumes in her Question that the use of induction of labour continues to increase at the present time. From limited evidence received by the Department in preparing its recent report on this question it seems possible that in fact this may not be so. In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise) on 9th December—[Vol. 902, c.165–6.]—I stated that I had now received the report of a series of visits to maternity units by officials from the Department. The decision to induce labour is a matter for clinical judgment, but in the visits undertaken no evidence was received of a widespread use of these techniques for convenience of staff. The report does, however, state that there is a need for greater discussion between hospital staff and mothers of the proposed use of induction and other modern obstetric techniques. It also suggests that the views which have been expressed may reflect underlying dissatisfaction of some mothers because their emotional and psychological expectations of childbirth are not being fully met. These conclusions have been generally welcomed by the statutory advisory committees, and my Department will be discussing them and the way in which improvements might be achieved with the professional bodies concerned.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the report on Induced Childbirth by the National Childbirth 526W Trust, a copy of which has been sent to her.
§ Dr. OwenThis report is an important contribution to our knowledge of this subject although based on a limited and not necessarily representative sample of mothers. Underlying many of the criticisms made by mothers was a general dissatisfaction with the obstetric team and with the extent to which mothers were put in the picture, which is in line with the conclusions drawn by the Department from their visits, which are being discussed with the professional bodies concerned.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase there has been in induced births nationally as a result of the crisis in the national Health Service and the 9 to 5 working day.
§ Dr. OwenI do not know to what extent recent industrial action in the National Health Service may have affected the number of induced births. Generally, such action is having little effect on maternity services.
§ Mrs. Colquhounasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of the Northamptonshire Area Health Authority about childbirth domiciliary deliveries; and how many such deliveries there have been in the past 12 months.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that the information requested is not immediately available, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.