Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Thursday, 9 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 October 2004. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Monday, 11 October 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list, for each NHS organisation providing maternity services, the latest available figures for (a) vacancies for midwifery grades (i) in numerical terms and (ii) expressed as a percentage of total number of posts at those grades and (b) numbers of (i) home births and (ii) caesarian sections performed, expressed in each case (A) in numerical terms and (B) as percentages of total births. (Table in Library Dep 04/1607) - Including figures and fact that information on vacancies also NHS Maternity Statistics in Library Dep 04/1701.

Answer: Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each NHS organisation providing maternity services, the latest available figures for (a) vacancies for midwifery grades (i) in numerical terms and (ii) expressed as a percentage of total number of posts at those grades and (b) numbers of (i) home births and (ii) caesarean sections performed, expressed in each case (A) in numerical terms and (B) as percentages of total births. [188905] Dr. Ladyman: The information available on vacancies for midwifery grades has been placed in the Library. Information on the numbers of home births and caesarean sections performed is not available in the format requested. Hospital episode statistics data show that, in 2002-03, there were an estimated 12,100 home deliveries (2.16 per cent. of total deliveries) and 117,800 caesarean deliveries (21 per cent. of total deliveries) in England. Percentages for caesarean sections compared to total hospital deliveries are available by hospital in Table 33 of the NHS Maternity Statistics, England, 20O2-03 bulletin. A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library.

Secondary information