A private health care provider will no longer pay for Caesarean births because it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine whether they are genuinely required.

AXA PPP Healthcare's decision was made because some hospitals are carrying out the invasive procedure to meet patient demand rather than out of medical necessity.

The number of Caesarean births has increased to one in five in the UK, with celebrity mothers leading the trend.

It is well known that the numbers of Caesarean sections performed in private hospitals is high and it accounts for around 50% of deliveries

AXA PPP spokesman

Other healthcare providers say they will continue to pay for Caesareans if they are clinically necessary.

An AXA PPP spokesman said: "We have decided to stop paying for Caesarean sections on our medical insurance policies because it was becoming increasingly difficult for us to distinguish between medically necessary Caesarean sections and Caesarean sections that are a matter of personal or lifestyle choice.

"It is well known that the numbers of Caesarean sections performed in private hospitals is high and it accounts for around 50% of deliveries."

Patients who are protected under alternative private health care schemes are still eligible for emergency operations.

Expert trust

Louise Zucchi, spokeswoman for Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "If a Caesarean is clinically necessary, then cover would be met by our standard comprehensive policies. There are no plans to review that."

Meanwhile, Alan Bailey, chief medical adviser with Standard Life, said: "We would pay for Caesareans that are done for medical reasons. We trust the obstetrician, we trust his report."

He said there were, sometimes, grey areas, but added that he has only had to judge one case this year.

Doctor Natalie-Jane Macdonald, medical director with BUPA, said: "We do pay for Caesarean sections that are needed for medical reasons.

"The number of Caesarean sections that we are paying for on behalf of our members increases steadily year on year."

She added: "There are circumstances where it is difficult to say whether the Caesarean section is being needed for medical reasons or lifestyle choice.

"We think it is important, on behalf of all our customers, that we don't fund Caesarean sections that are being undertaken simply for choice."

Among the high profile women opting for elective Caesareans were Victoria Beckham and Mel B of the Spice Girls, former All Saints singer Melanie Blatt, DJ Zoe Ball and actress Patsy Kensit.