§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the measures which have reduced the perinatal mortality figures in Aberdeen from a high figure to the lowest in Great Britain are being applied in all parts of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe factors contributing to Aberdeen's high standard of obstetric care are many and complex, including the early introduction of a comprehensive and well-integrated maternity service, a high hospital confinement rate, and the establishment of a closely-affiliated specialist neonatal paediatric 461W service. The introduction of family planning services has also helped to reduce the number of babies at special risk.
Policies similar to those adopted in Aberdeen are now current practice throughout Scotland. It should be noted that while the perinatal mortality rate in Aberdeen is among the lowest it is not currently the lowest in Great Britain. The figure for 1974 was 17 per thousand total births.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his practice to publish each year the perinatal and infant mortality rates in each health board, and an analysis of the data indicating the reasons for any increase and decrease over the previous years.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe Registrar General for Scotland publishes the perinatal and infant mortality rates for health board areas in Scotland annually; the latest available figures are in Part I of the Annual Report for 1974, available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Figures for 1975 will be published during the spring of 1977. A regular analysis of the data is not published but the figures are kept under review.