One in four births in England is now emergency caesarean, BBC analysis shows

• Emergency caesarean section rates in England have risen to 25% of all births over the past five years, representing a substantial increase requiring urgent investigation into contributing factors
• No single identifiable cause has been established for this rise, suggesting multiple clinical and organisational factors may be driving the trend
• The significant elevation warrants review of current obstetric practice, decision-making protocols, and maternal outcomes to determine whether rates reflect genuine clinical need or potential overuse

The shift marks a significant rise over the last five years, but experts say there is no single, clear explanation for the increase.

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