| Abstract
| - The ability to provide information about the incidence of congenital malformations from the Scottish Neonatal Discharge Record (SMR11) is discussed. The quality and completeness of the data provided by various Health Boards are examined. Information on over 95 per cent of births in a defined geographical area is used to provide population based incidence of congenital malformations. These rates are compared with those notified in England and Wales and various other countries. Observed differences are discussed, and it is concluded that the SMR11 provides a means, at least as good as other countries, of producing information on congenital malformations, and in the future, it may be possible to monitor and report promptly on observed changes in the pattern of malformations.
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