An integrated pain relief service for labour: co-operation between obstetricians, anaesthetists and midwives

Epidural injections were performed by obstetricians on 1012 patients in a pain relief service in which there was clinical co-operation between anaesthetists and obstetricians. A consultant anaesthetist collaborated in the training of staff providing the service. Midwives maintained the epidural analgesia with top-up doses as part of their traditional role in providing pain relief in labour. Eight-eight per cent of patients were fully satisfied, 10% were helped and 2% had failed epidurals. The forceps rate was 30% and the dural tap rate 1.4%. Junior obstetric staff in training grades can with adequate safeguards make a significant contribution to running an obstetric epidural service.