One baby in 46 born with a birth defect, doctors’ report reveals

A report found England and Wales has higher rates of neural tube defects such as spina bifida than many other European countries. Overall the highest numbers of defects are in babies born to women aged 40 and over, according to the Yorkshire Post. The study, from the British Isles Network of Congenital Anomaly Registers, is the most comprehensive of its kind, covering six regions of England and Wales. Authors estimate that there were 15,966 babies suffering defects in 2011, or 2.2 per cent of babies. The most common anomalies were congenital heart defects, which affect at least six in every