There are calls for national guidelines for the use of a drug that speeds up labour.

The Irish Independent reported this morning that the use of the drug is cited in a substantial number of medical negligence claims against maternity units.

However, there is still no national guidance on the use of this drug, Syntocinon.

The warning has been issued by the State Claims Agency which handles compensation cases brought against health staff.

Dr Sam Coulter Smith is a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Master of the Rotunda Hospital. He spoke to Newstalk Lunchtime this afternoon about the drug.

Dr Coulter Smith explained, "the problem with oxytocin or Syntocinon is that if it's used in an unregulated fashion then it can cause over-contraction of the uterus."

He says that in a contraction a baby gets a reduced amount of blood flow and therefore oxygen, and if that happens too often it can cause damage.

"It's important that there are guidelines as to how many contractions a woman should be allowed to have in a set period of time," Dr Coulter Smith said.

In terms of Syntocinon, "it's very important that we have guidelines that are uniform throughout the country. We do get junior doctors that move from one institution to another, and midwives that will go from Dublin hospitals to go to work down the country and vice versa. So it is important that we have uniform guidelines," he said.