Madam, - I was surprised and disappointed to read the headline that the Caesarean section rate in the Coombe Women's Hospital has risen to 18.9 per cent (The Irish Times, November 27th). It was not the fact that the Caesarean section rate increased by 0.2 per cent, a modest increase in an overall modest Caesarean section rate, that is disappointing, but that The Irish Times chose to write this as a headline.
Last year the Coombe Women's Hospital recorded one of the lowest perinatal mortality rates in the history of Irish obstetric practice. This low rate was achieved against a background of increasing activity and an increasing burden of disease among expectant mothers.
It is disappointing that the media are unable to emphasise the positive aspects of care as demonstrated in last year's annual report, and would prefer to headline an irrelevant rise in Caesarean section rates. - Yours, etc.,
Dr SEAN DALY,
Master,
Coombe Women's Hospital,
Dublin 8