PREGNANT women are being let down by the NHS despite health chiefs being told to change their ways a decade ago, says a Swindon MP Julia Drown.

And she believes women are still going through the trauma of unnecessary surgery because doctors sometimes opt for Caesarean-section delivery.

Ms Drown, who recently gave birth to daughter Ottilie Ellen, said: "There are lots of really good maternity staff but I'm sure we could do more."

The Labour MP for South Swindon said she had met with hospital chiefs and received some answers but insisted she was not satisfied.

"And she accused the government of being complacent about the matter of Caesarean delivery.

Ms Drown made the comments after the publication of a parliamentary inquiry into maternity services. She is a member of the House of Commons Health Committee which carried out the research.

The MP said their work showed pregnancy was still being treated as a disease.

She criticised the UK's health bosses for not giving women "real choice" about maternity services.

She said: "There have been cases where women were told they could get help to give birth at home only for the hospital to change its mind at the last minute.

"We have evidence of women giving birth at home alone because they don't want to go into hospital but get no alternative help.

"It should never get to that. In our latest report we repeat the recommendation made by the Health Committee 10 years ago that the imposition of hospital care cannot be justified. Giving birth is a normal, natural thing," Ms Drown said.

The report says women should be given the chance to decide if they want to go into hospital or would prefer a midwife-controlled delivery at home.

This would save the NHS cash, the report says.