Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward from 42 weeks the period for inducing labour in at risk expectant mothers.

The induction of labour is a clinical decision for healthcare professionals. These decisions are based on the latest available evidence and take account of the risk and other clinical factors for each individual pregnancy.

To assist healthcare professionals, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published clinical guidelines on the induction of labour, which are available on the NICE website at:

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12012/41256/41256.pdf.

The NICE guidelines advise that women with uncomplicated pregnancies should usually be offered induction of labour between 41+0 and 42+0 weeks.

Women can be deemed high risk for a multitude of reasons. Each reason will carry its own set of criteria for delivery. It is not possible to say that induction for all at risk pregnancies should be brought forward as these should be reviewed according to individual needs.