HC Deb 08 May 1981 vol 4 cc163-4W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistics are collected by his Department on perinatal and neonatal mortality; and whether any changes are being proposed to this collection.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Perinatal and neonatal mortality statistics are derived routinely by the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys from the national birth and death registration system. Statistics by cause, sex, legitimacy, area, social class, place of confinement, age and parity of mother and birthplace of parents are published. Transfer of birthweight information from birth notification to birth registration is now operating successfully; some provisional perinatal and infant mortality statistics by birthweight for earlier years when it was less complete will be available shortly. The Registrar General is currently taking advice on the recommendations in respect of medical certification of cause of perinatal death contained in the Social Services Committee report.

For babies of 2,500 grams or less information is derived from birth notifications and returned to DHSS annually by areas health authorities. The information supplied shows stillbirths and deaths within 24 hours and under 28 days for five birthweight groups and distinguishes between those in hospital or at home or in a nursing home. Consideration is being given to whether this information can be obtained from birth registration data.