Currently, infant health professionals collect data on live and still births. It is analysed by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to detect changes in the level of birth defects, like spina bifida, in England and Wales.
However, the ONS has been criticised for the accuracy of its statistics.
For example, 20 per cent of potential data is missed by excluding terminations, which often exhibit the most serious birth defects.
Now the Congenital Anomaly Register and Information Service for Wales (CARIS) will be using its specialist knowledge to trial more rigorous methods of data collection. If shown to be successful, it says the ONS may adopt them.
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