TOO many mothers are giving birth by Caesarean section at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

Head of midwifery Sue Chapman said the figure of just over one in three was "beyond the pale". She added:"Our biggest criticism and something I am not proud of is our Caesarean rate.

"The figure is higher than it should be. We should be striving for the average of 22%. We are not the worst in the country but our figure is certainly the highest in this area."

Ms Chapman was speaking at a meeting of the Patient and Public Involvement Forum for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which manages the hospital. Asked why she thought Caesarean birth numbers were so high, she said: "Some patients may put pressure on us and as we have very nice obstetricians, I can't help think they might give in if people were to say, I just can't face pushing this baby out'. But I can't say, hand on heart, that is what it is."

The hospital admits around 4,300 patients to its maternity department each year, almost 1,300 of whom will have Caesarean operations.

A spokeswoman for the National Childbirth Trust, which campaigns for lower Caesarean rates, said: "Despite the reduction in complications associated with surgery, there are still risks involved. For babies there is an increased risk of breathing difficulties and an increased need for nursing in special care baby units, involving separation from their mother.

"Complications for the mother are more common. The main consequences affecting women are the practical effects of looking after a newborn baby after major abdominal surgery, including tiredness, tenderness and pain."

Consultants from East Surrey have been to Nottingham City Hospital to try to discover the difference in that hospital's culture which has kept the rate of vaginal births high. Only 16% of births are Caesareans there and every 24 hours the maternity department reviews whether operating was the best option.

Ms Chapman said: "This is the area we need do most work on and we're devoting a lot of time to it."

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Second ward may be opened

A SECOND maternity ward could be opened at East Surrey Hospital.

The number of women giving birth in the Redhill hospital has risen by 50% in the past six years, according to head of midwifery Sue Chapman, partly due to the movement of all in-patient services from Crawley Hospital to Redhill in 2001. At present, 4,300 women give birth at East Surrey each year.

The hospital board will meet next Tuesday to discuss whether another ward, approved in principle, should be added to the existing delivery suite and ward.

If approved, it is likely the new ward will include a midwifery delivery unit and take around 40% of women coming in.

Ms Chapman said: "At the moment we are very short on beds, which makes ourturnover very quick, meaning satisfaction is reduced for women and midwives."

Fifteen new beds are to be introduced to the maternity department in April.