Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC)
Overview
The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC) was established in 1982, by an amendment to the Health Act 1958 (Vic) under the auspices of the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM).
The VPDC was established as a population based surveillance system to collect and analyse information on and in relation to the health of mothers and babies in order to contribute to improvements in their health. The Perinatal period is the period around birth. In Victoria this begins at 20 weeks gestation and ends 28 days after birth.
The data collected via a Birth report contains information on obstetric conditions, procedures and outcomes, neonatal morbidity and birth defects relating to every birth in Victoria of at least 20 weeks gestation, or if gestation is unknown at least 400gms birth weight.
The majority of data items, of which there are nearly 100, comply with the National Perinatal Minimum Data Set, which is collected by all States and Territories (all other states have a similar Unit to VPDC) and are sent to the National Perinatal Statistics Unit for the production of the annual report on Australia's mothers and babies.
The VPDC is responsible to the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity (CCOPMM) the advisory body to the Minister of Health on maternal, perinatal and paediatric deaths. The CCOPMM reviews all perinatal, maternal and child (less than 18 years old) deaths. Information provided to the CCOPMM is privileged from access by any third party, including the courts.
However, CCOPMM may, if it determines that it is in the public interest to do so, provide information to bodies specified in section 162FB of the Health Act 1958 (Vic).