C-Section Option For All Women, Report Says

Pregnant women could soon be given caesarean sections on the NHS regardless of their medical condition.

A report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommends healthy women should be allowed to undergo the procedure should they wish to.

Previously, women were expected to give birth naturally unless there was a medical reason for a 'c-section'.

The guidelines are being changed because caesarean operations are now much safer than they used to be.

There have been cases where women have persuaded doctors to carry out a caesarean section when it was not medically necessary, although such cases were uncommon.

The report is due to be published next month after being checked for any factual errors.

A Nice spokesman said: "This is a draft report and is due for publication next month after consultation. As a result, the report could change."

Doctors who do not wish to carry out the procedure for non-medical or ethical reasons will be able to refer women who want a caesarean to other doctors who are willing to do so, The Sunday Times said.

Women will also have to talk through their reasons for wanting the operation with doctors and midwives before being able to finalise their decision.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Nice are currently consulting on draft guidance relating to caesarean sections. Final guidance will be published in November."