Portland in Caesarean report

The level of Caesarean births at Britain's most exclusive private maternity unit - the Portland Hospital - has been brought into question in a report by a new national health watchdog.

Inspectors from the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) found that the Caesarean rate at the hospital is double the English average and four times the maximum rate recommended by the World Health Organisation.

In addition, the hospital - where celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Elizabeth Hurley and Claudia Schiffer have had their babies - failed to meet six of the eight NCSC standards for maternity services.

The findings in the draft report, seen by the Evening Standard, are being contested by the hospital.

The commission raises concerns about the lack of clear policies for referring women in labour from a midwife to a consultant in emergencies, and dealing with the conditions that most commonly lead to clinical negligence claims.

It also found that the central London hospital had longer than recommended time limits for on-call midwives to reach the unit when a woman arrives to have her baby.

The report is a result of a routine inspection of the Portland by the NCSC, which was set up last April to regulate private care homes, hospitals and cosmetic surgery clinics.

But the failings highlighted in the maternity unit come at a difficult time for the hospital, following the highly publicised deaths of two women during labour. An inquest last December recorded an open verdict on Tracey Sampson, 36, who developed breathing difficulties after having a general anaesthetic because of a phobia of needles.

In a separate move the NCSC has referred the anaesthetist involved, Kenneth MacLeod, to the General Medical Council. Mrs Sampson's family are considering civil action against the Portland.

In 1999 Laura Touche, 31, died after giving birth to twins at the Portland. After a three-year legal battle by her husband Peter an inquest jury found she was a victim of neglect.

In today's report, NCSC inspectors found the 88-bed hospital had a Caesarean rate of 43 per cent. The commission says an audit should be conducted into the high number.

The hospital says the rates are due to the fact it sees a higher proportion of older women and patients from overseas, who are more likely to request Caesareans.

The inspectors also found 18 other specific areas in which the Portland - which also offers children's healthcare, chemotherapy, gynaecology and laser services - had not met the required level.

They included poorly written medical records, inadequate complaints procedures and lack of checks on some qualifications and insurance held by some doctors.

Publication of the report has been delayed for months, according to sources, because Portland bosses have bitterly objected to some of the findings. Hospital chief executive Judy van den Broek said: "There remain a number of points on which we disagree with the inspectors' findings. This is inevitable with new standards.

"We have one of the highest levels of specialist nursing and consultant care to the women and children who are our patients, 24 hours a day.

"Uniquely, we have a resident consultant anaesthetist at the hospital at all times, as well as a senior registrar or research fellow in obstetrics and in paediatrics, all on site 24 hours a day to meet patients' care needs."