Elective C-sections and home births (FOI)

​Request 693697208

​In relation to the current situation of no home birthing as an option for women and the reference by the health minister today that this may have to be paid for in future, it is important to know how this compares to elective c- sections which are currently a choice for women. Can you please provide the following information -

A

How many elective c sections have been undertaken in Jersey maternity unit in the past 5 years? 

B

What is the total average cost of an elective c section with no complications (including equipment, drugs, staffing, cost of average number of days on maternity for the mother and baby etc)?

C

How much has elective c sections cost the government in the past 5 years?

D

What is the total average cost of a normal routine low risk home birth cost (including equipment, staffing, etc)?

Response

A

Annual figures for elective Caesarean sections are detailed in the attached table. As noted in previous Freedom of Information requests on surgical procedures, the term ‘elective’ is used to denote that an operation or procedure has been planned / scheduled, as opposed to an emergency intervention. 

Annual Delivery Data 2020 to 2024.pdf​

Monthly and annual elective Caesarean section rates are also reported in Health and Care Jersey’s Quality Performance Reports on www.gov.je:

Health and Care Jersey Quality and Performance Reports​

B and C

The information requested is not available, and therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

Work on Patient Level Information and Costing System (PLICS) models to accurately benchmark and report costs is ongoing.

NHS Maternity pathway tariffs used as a guide for reference list the proposed guide price of ‘Elective Caesarean Section’ for 2025 / 2026 as £4,564.

Previous versions for prior year tariffs can be found at the following link:

NHS England » NHS Payment Scheme​

D

As noted in a Freedom of Information response published to www.gov.je in February 2025, the home birth service forms part of the wider Maternity service provision, and is not costed independently. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Article applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.​