Women should be told that they may not get an epidural before labour?

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A friend of mine recently had her 3rd dc. She had an epidural with her first 2 dc's and had positive birth experiences. Her plan was to have an epidural with this one too.

However, despite hours of contractions, when she got to the hospital she was told she was not in labour (2cm dilated) and so could not yet have an epidural. When her contractions ramped up the midwife told her she was probably now in labour but she could not have an epidural because there were no rooms availible on the consultant unit (she was admitted to the birth centre on the same site).

The midwife then told her she needed 4 things to meet the criteria to get an epidural.
To be in 'active' labour
Have a room availible on labour ward
An anaesthetist availible
A midwife to give you 1 to 1 care

She ended up giving birth without getting an epidural, is quite traumatised and feels very let down and annoyed that no-one ever told her that an epidural may not be an option for her on the day. She was aware she may not get one if she had a speedy delivery but she was in angony for hours . Most women I know have always just been smiled at by midwives and told 'Yeah, you can get an epidural whenever you like!'

Now, I understand the need for all of these things to be in place before getting an epidural but why aren't women informed of this antenatally and just lied to?
I've encouraged her to complain but she say's 'Whats the point, its done now'. I wonder how many other women this has happened to and also don't bother to complain because its over/ they are too traumatised/ to exhaused looking after a new baby.
Is there a conspiracy to withhold the truth so that women won't/can't complain and demand better services?

I was lied to, too!
At birth reflections, the midwife said, 'well there's no record here of you asking for an epidural - it says you were coping well with the pain'

Ah, well that must be what happened then!!! - I asked 6 times for an epidural (no mention of this anywhere in my notes!)- and the evil cow kept saying that I wan't dilated enough for an epidural and then waited until I went through transition before she would examine me again
Just for the record, I'm not saying that all midwifes are 'evil cow's' before I get bashed! I did have a lovely one too who was brilliant.
I do think women are routinely lied to, before, during and after labour and delivery (anecodotally - knowing lots and lots of women who have given birth)

My husband is under strict instructions this time to hover over HCP to make sure they write it in my notes every time I ask....

My birth plan included an epidural, and I was hell bent on making sure I got one. I reminded every single midwife and staff in the ward that I wanted an epidural at every opportunity. I didn't give a rats a*se if I didn't "clinically need one". I wanted one, and I was going to make sure I got one even if it meant making life very difficult for all concerned.

At one point the midwife assistant said, "of course, if the pain gets to be too much then we can get an epidural". to which I responded, "no, i would like an epidural no matter what the pain is like"

Luckily I was being induced and gels and waters breaking has zero effect, and I was automatically offered one before they started the syntocin.

And I had the most wonderful, pain-free birth I could have ever hoped for.

While epidurals are not "clinically necessary" in many circumstances, they help many women start their family life in a calm and and positive way. I can't imagine bringing a little one into the world while I scream like an animal, so tired and exhausted from hours of labour that I can't enjoy them.

I look at it much the same as the post natal wards - every woman I've spoken to describes them as hell on earth, and the most stressful introduction to family life imaginable. Sure, no one needs a private room with high quality care.
A dungeon with a midwife to patient ratio of 1:50 will suffice.

But because that's not the right way for me to begin life with baby, and since the government doesn't seem to agree/care, for this reason alone, if I ever have a #2, I will be forking out to go private because the NHS is horrific in many ways. Good in some, but not good enough for me or my baby.

Siamo, why are you so vitriolic? You seem to be raging here, why? What does it matter to you how others experienced their births? Your tone is horrible.