Background Advances in neonatal care have resulted in increased survival rates but at what cost? Are there more intact survivors or more with significant disability? This study details data from 10 years (1993–2002) and compares data from 1993–97 and 1998–02.

Methods Prestructured forms based on the Health Status Questionnaire were completed at 2 years of age. Data were analysed using SPSS.

Results From 1993–2002, 2367 babies were born alive with 1850 surviving and undergoing assessment at 2 years. Table 1 details rates of disability for the two groups. Table 2 details auditory and visual complications by 5 year cohort.

Conclusions Overall rates of neurodisability did not alter significantly over the 10 year period. Rates of hearing loss increased. The rate of blindness decreased probably reflecting better screening and earlier treatment of ROP. Follow up became increasingly difficult over the 10 year period and remains a challenge in this essential analysis of outcome data.