A report released by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has revealed that The Royal Free Trust performs the highest number of caesarean sections in the UK.

The report indicated that over a quarter of mother’s at the hospital have a caesarean. Of these, 28.2 per cent are first-time mothers and 27.7 per cent have had children in the past.

Experts at the RCOG suggest that the increasing number of caesareans could be because of previous caesareans, traumatic births or “maternal requests” and the report argues: “The clinical and demographic characteristics of women can affect the demands placed on the service and the outcomes of care.”

The Royal Free figures, however, demonstrate equally high numbers of women have an emergency caesarean at the Hampstead hospital - with almost 40 per cent of new mothers having one after being induced. A hospital spokesman said: “A caesarean is a major operation and would usually only be performed if there’s a medical reason. However in accordance with national recommendations on providing maternal choice in childbirth we support some mothers who request a caesarean.”