Health Minister Joseph Cassar said there were no plans to introduce a system of water birthing to Mater Dei Hospital.

He was replying to Labour MP Leo Brincat, who asked in Parliament this evening why there was not the option of water births available at the hospital.

Dr Cassar said that there were no studies to confirm that water births were better for the baby than the more traditional method of delivery.

"Anecdotal evidence also tells us that we have to tread carefully around water births, especially from the paediatric aspect," Dr Cassar said.

"Due to present medical information, and the lack of available studies that confirm the benefits of water births, there are currently no plans within the obstetric team at Mater Dei to introduce water births," Dr Cassar concluded.