HC Deb 19 March 1991 vol 188 cc63-4W
Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the perinatal mortality rate for the years 1986–87 to the present for (1) West Wales general hospital, Carmarthen, (2) Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest., (3) Singleton hospital, Swansea, (4) Morriston hospital and (5) Wales; and what information he has on comparable figures for Great Britain.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Perinatal mortality rates on a hospital basis are not available centrally.

Data from the registration system which are routinely published on an area of residence basis are reproduced in the following table with equivalent rates for Great Britain.

Perinatal Mortality Rates1
Area of mother's usual residence2 1986 1987 1988 1989
Great Britain 9.6 8.9 8.7 8.4
Wales 10.3 9.2 8.6 8.3
District Health Authority Area
East Dyfed 12.5 10.1 9.1 9.5
Pembrokeshire 38.0 38.2 313.4 38.9
West Glamorgan 10.1 9.5 8.4 7.6

Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

1 Rates are perinatal deaths (stillbirths and deaths within the first week after birth) per 1,000 total (live and still) births.

2 Not necessarily the area of delivery or death.

3 Care should be taken in interpretation of these rates calculated from fewer than 20 events.