NHS charging for pain relief in childbirth
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The Royal College of Midwives will be debating a motion at their annual conference this year that suggests charging women for epidurals, unless such a form of pain relief is clinically indicated.
It is widely accepted in modern medical practice that pain is subjective and managing pain is an integral part of patient care. Whilst some women choose to have a вnaturalв birth, many others request pain relief in the form of an epidural. Epidurals have been used safely, to provide effective pain relief for over 30 years.
Even if the RCMвs motion is not passed by their conference, given that midwives are the gatekeepers to birth-related services, the debate validates the notion that midwives are able to decide how much pain a patient is in and will encourage midwives to put women off having epidurals.
We would therefore like you to send a note to the Royal College of Midwives reminding their members that they should not select what pain relief should be given in childbirth; rather they should provide correct, unbiased information to allow women to make their own informed choice.
We hope you agree with us that women should not be denied epidurals in childbirth on the grounds of cost or prejudice.
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