Limitations of the OPCS congenital malformation notification system illustrated by examination of congenital malformations of the cardiovascular system in districts within the Trent Region

Data are presented from OPCS notification statistics and other sources on rates of congenital cardiovascular malformations in the Trent Health Region and in its constituent Districts. While Trent in general, and some of its districts in particular, show high notification rates, other data sources suggest that the underlying malformation rate may not be raised compared with that seen nationally. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed and the OPCS notification system is compared with that in Scotland.