* Note: this publication has been replaced on 12 February 2008 following a correction to table E.

Key facts

Between 2004-05 and 2005-06:

• the caesarean rate rose slightly from 22.9 per cent to 23.5 per cent.

In 2005-06:

• over 20 per cent of deliveries were induced
• 23.5 per cent of deliveries were by caesarean section; more than half of these were emergency caesareans
• 11 per cent were instrumental deliveries
• an estimated 47 per cent of deliveries were 'normal deliveries' defined as those without surgical intervention, use of instruments, induction, epidural or general anaesthetic
• women with spontaneous deliveries spent on average one day in hospital after delivery, women with instrumental deliveries one or two days and women with caesarean deliveries between two and four days
• during delivery about a third of women had an epidural, general or spinal anaesthetic
• 14 per cent of women had an episiotomy.

Summary

This bulletin summarises information from the Hospital Episodes Statistics system relating to NHS maternities in the year 2005-06 and includes some comparisons with similar data from earlier years.

Consultation

We are currently reviewing the NHS Maternity Statistics publication; you can read our consultation document and complete the questionnaire on our consultation page.