Assessing the Health Needs of a Population

Abstract

The ability to both recognise and respond to the health needs of individual patients is fundamental to effective general practice. Ninety percent of all patient contacts within the National Health Service (NHS) occur in primary care, therefore GPs are ideally placed to understand local health needs. This understanding is acknowledged by recent health care reforms, which give GPs greater responsibility for population health. Accepting this responsibility requires an understanding of how to assess the health needs of a population.