- FoI Number
- 2024-474
- Subject
- Multiple Births
- Date Received
- 06/11/2024
- Request and Response
-
I would like to make a freedom of information request for information about multiple births (twins, triplets and higher order multiples) in the NHS Shetland area from 2013-2023 inclusive.
Figures provided below are for all NHS Shetland registered patients. This therefore includes for example those who give birth in NHS Grampian.
We would like to receive six tables:
- Births registered per year from 2013-2023 inclusive by year for each order of multiples – twins, triplets, quadruplets, higher order multiples, as well as total resident births (live and still).
Year
1 Birth
2 Births
Total
2013
235
<5
2014
250
<5
2015
225
<5
2016
250
<5
2017
209
<5
2018
202
5
207
2019
185
<5
2020
170
<5
2021
188
<5
2022
209
<5
2023
156
5
161
Where we have given <5 answers or removed yearly totals, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing highly sensitive information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- Births registered from a multiple maternity per year from 2013-2023 inclusive, broken down by the 4-digit Postcode sector of the mother’s residence at time of birth.
The figure provided is for the number of births i.e. twins count as 2.
Year
ZE10
ZE29
Total
2013
0
6
6
2014
<5
6
2015
<5
<5
2016
<5
0
2017
<5
<5
2018
<5
6
2019
<5
0
2020
<5
<5
2021
<5
<5
2022
<5
<5
2023
6
<5
Where we have given <5 answers or removed yearly totals, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing highly sensitive information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- Births registered from a multiple maternity per year from 2013-2023 inclusive, broken down by hospital of birth.
Year
Queen Elizabeth
University Hospital
Aberdeen Maternity
Hospital
Ninewells
Hospital
Forth Valley
Royal Hospital
Gilbert Bain
Hospital
2013
0
<5
0
0
0
2014
0
<5
0
0
0
2015
0
<5
0
0
0
2016
0
<5
0
0
0
2017
0
<5
<5
0
0
2018
<5
<5
0
0
0
2019
0
<5
0
0
0
2020
0
<5
0
0
0
2021
0
<5
0
<5
<5
2022
0
<5
0
0
0
2023
0
<5
0
<5
0
Where we have given <5 answers or removed yearly totals, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing highly sensitive information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- Multiple birth pregnancies resulting in an emergency C-section per year from 2013-2023 inclusive, broken down by hospital of birth.
Year
Queen Elizabeth
University Hospital
Aberdeen Maternity
Hospital
Ninewells
Hospital
Forth Valley
Royal Hospital
Gilbert Bain
Hospital
2013
0
<5
0
0
0
2014
0
<5
0
0
0
2015
0
<5
0
0
0
2016
0
0
0
0
0
2017
0
<5
<5
0
0
2018
<5
<5
0
0
0
2019
0
0
0
0
0
2020
0
<5
0
0
0
2021
0
0
0
<5
<5
2022
0
<5
0
0
0
2023
0
<5
0
0
0
Where we have given <5 answers or removed yearly totals, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing highly sensitive information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- Multiple birth neonatal deaths (number of babies) per year from 2013-2023 inclusive, broken down by hospital of birth.
Due to the small numbers involved, the highly sensitive nature of the information requested and the small population of Shetland, we are unable to provide any information, even redacted, in response to this question. NHS Shetland considers that any information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing highly sensitive information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- Multiple birth neonatal admissions (number of babies admitted to a neonatal unit for their care) per year from 2013-2023 inclusive, broken down by hospital of birth.
Year
Aberdeen Maternity
Hospital
Ninewells
Hospital
Forth Valley
Royal Hospital
Gilbert Bain
Hospital
2013
<5
0
0
0
2014
<5
0
0
0
2015
0
0
0
0
2016
<5
0
0
0
2017
<5
<5
0
0
2018
<5
0
0
0
2019
0
0
0
0
2020
<5
0
0
0
2021
<5
0
<5
<5
2022
<5
0
0
0
2023
<5
0
0
0
Where we have given <5 answers or removed yearly totals, this is because NHS Shetland considers that providing more specific information carries a high risk of identifying individuals and/or disclosing highly sensitive information about individuals. As such and in accordance with FOISA s 16(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it holds the information requested but that it is exempt from disclosure under FOISA s 38(1)(b) as read with s 38 (2A) as the information constitutes personal data and disclosure would breach the confidentiality of the data subjects.
- Please also confirm if current antenatal care for multiple pregnancies (in 2024 and going forward) is delivered by “a core team of named specialist obstetricians, specialist midwives and sonographers, all of whom have experience and knowledge of managing twin and triplet pregnancies”, in accordance with NICE guideline NG137.
NHS Shetland ante natal care is provided by a small team, locally. They are supported by specialists from NHS Grampian.
- Finally, how many perinatal mortality reviews involving multiple births were conducted from 2020-2023 inclusive and what changes have been made as a result of them?
Zero
