Caesarean sections (FOI)

Request

A recent statement from the Medical Officer of health highlighted the number of c-sections in Jersey as significantly higher than the UK. Can you tell me:

A

Last year, how many caesarean sections were performed?

B

Of those, what number were carried out on consultants or medical advice rather than purely elective by the mother?

C

What number were paid for privately?

Response

A

During 2018 there were 285 caesarean sections performed in Jersey General Hospital.

B

It is not possible to determine the number that were medically advised without reviewing each individual patient’s notes, which, it has been estimated, would exceed the cost limit provided under Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 and the 12.5 hours maximum allowed under Regulation 2(1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014.

C

There were five caesarean sections that have been recorded as privately funded admissions.

Article applied

Article 16 A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations.

Regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 allows an authority to refuse a request for information where the estimated cost of dealing with the request would exceed the specified amount of the cost limit of £500. This is the estimated cost of one person spending 12.5 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.