Report of the Infant Cremation Commission

Report examining current practice regarding the cremation of infants and making recommendations for improvement for the future.


Annex Q - Numbers of Deaths and Cremations By Age of Baby / Infant

Numbers of Deaths and Cremations by Age of Baby / Infant

Numbers of Deaths By Age of Baby / Infant

Pre-24 weeks

Terminations

Miscarriages

Stillbirths

0-1 year

1-2 year

2010

12826

unknown / not recorded

291

218

13

2011

12471

unknown / not recorded

299

238

21

2012

12447

unknown / not recorded

274

217

17

Numbers of Cremations By Age of Baby / Infant

Pre 24 week Cremations

Stillbirth Cremations

0 to 2 years Cremations

Individual

Collective / Shared

2010

887

116

89 (31% of total)

61 (26% of total 231)

2011

714

118

103 (34% of total)

58 (22% of total 259)

2012

748

149

89 (32% of total)

59 (25% of total 234)

1. Terminations data available from:
http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Sexual-Health/Publications/2013-05-28/2013-05-28-Abortions-Report.pdf?25243777037

2. Limited recording of pre-24 week miscarriages is indirectly confirmed in 'introduction and methods' section of:
https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Maternity-and-Births/Publications/2013-03-26/2013-03-26-SPIMMR2011-report.pdf?58437746764

3. Stillbirth data available from table 4.4 of:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/general/ref-tables/2012/section-4-stillbirths-and-infant-deaths.html

4. Breakdown 0-1 years and 1-2 years data provided:
direct from National Records of Scotland senior statistician, in response to a Commission request on 30 October 2013

5. All cremation figures provided via Commission questionnaire issued to 27 crematoria on 11 June 2013

Notes:
There are approximately 57,000 live births in Scotland each year.
Some very rare late 20 to 24 week terminations requested in Scotland are carried out in England and are therefore recorded in English data.

Contact

Email: Sarah Dillon

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