"Research based on linked records has the potential to make a major contribution to our understanding of the factors influencing disease, disability and death and ... in the evaluation of health services. Record linkage maximises the use of available data, makes feasible follow-up studies of large samples at low cost, permits retrospective studies to be conducted many years after exposure to some agent has taken place, minimises loss to follow-up and eliminates burden on respondents and reliance on self-reported data." (Sibthorpe et al, 1995).
The Summary Report of the Research Outputs Project, including a list of project outputs from 1995 to 2003 is available here Summary of Research Outputs Project (pdf format, 546kB).