Vol. 472 No. 1
136 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to modify the birth notification form 101 by adding a section indicating and specifying birth defects, with a view to establishing a national birth defects register indicating the nature, geographical location and number of birth defects in any given year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22525/96]
Limerick East): The birth notification form already contains a section which provides for the identification of specific birth defects in newborns. Under the heading “Infant's Health”, information is sought on the “Main Disease or Congenital Malformation Affecting the Infant” as well as any secondary diseases or anomalies. On its own, however, this information is not sufficient to provide data for a national register of birth defects. The reason for this is that the birth notification form is designed for the early notification of births, and many birth defects may not be diagnosed until a later stage.
A register of birth defects must draw data from numerous sources in order to be as comprehensive as possible. These would include hospital in-patient data, child health service information, laboratory and pathology services, and death certificates in addition to birth notification data.
Since 1979, a European project (EUROCAT), to establish population-based registries of congenital defects in EU countries has been in operation in Ireland. It currently covers the Eastern Health Board area and Galway County. Data from the birth notification form comprises one of a number of important sources of information for EUROCAT. The question of extending EUROCAT to cover other areas of the country will be considered.
