Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that pregnant women are informed of their rights to an elective C-section.

NHS England’s three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services recognises the importance of listening to women and families. It aims to ensure that women have clear choices, supported by unbiased information and evidence-based guidelines, and that all women are offered personalised care and support plans.

Personalised care and support plans take account of their physical health, mental health, social complexities, and choices. Personalised care includes an open and honest ongoing dialogue between a woman, her midwife, and other clinicians, to understand the care that is wanted.

NHS England’s website includes information about asking for a caesarean.