§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the proportion of births which are started by artificial induction and the proportion which are accelerated; and what are the current trends.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe estimated proportions of deliveries in National Health Service hospitals which were artificially induced or in which labour was accelerated are given in the table. The information is derived from a nominal 10 per cent. sample of cases recorded by the Maternity Hospital In-Patient Enquiry.
Deliveries assisted by Artificial Induction or Accelerated Labour Percentages—England Year Induction Accelerated labour 11979 21.8 10.8 11980 20.2 11.1 1982 18.7 11.1 1983 18.8 11.7 1984 17.4 11.8 1985 17.6 12.1 1England and Wales. Figures for 1981 are not available.