Independent.co.uk
April 2, 2003
Private hospital’s Caesarean rate is twice the national average
By Matthew Beard
The rate of Caesarean births at the private-sector Portland Hospital in London is double the national average, a report says. The study found the clinic wanting in six out of eight standards for maternity services.
Inspectors from the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) called for an audit of Caesarean births at the 88-bed hospital after discovering they accounted for 43 per cent of deliveries in a draft report.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=393106
Comment: Opponents of government involvement in health care frequently cite the private sector of the British system as an example of the need to escape public systems in order to receive a higher standard of care. Is a 43% Caesarean section rate representative of the “higher quality, more advanced technology” that they are seeking?