There is a great deal of information on health inequalities that exist between Gateshead and England as a whole (see earlier blog in the Health Information theme). Less information exists on variations in health within Gateshead. Sometimes this is due to small numbers of events such as deaths, particularly in relation to a specific disease or age band. When numbers of events are small statistics such as death rates will vary greatly from year to year. Also when numbers are very small there is a danger that statistics may identify individuals. Due to these factors it is difficult to model high level health outcomes such as life expectancy and death rates for areas smaller than Gateshead as a whole.

Not all is lost! Many 'lower level' indicators of health such as hospital admissions, the incidence of breastfeeding and the prevalence of smoking are based on a larger number of observations and can be calculated for small areas such as localities, electoral wards and Sure Start areas. By looking at variations in these indicators within Gateshead, work such as the promotion of Stop Smoking Services or education around the benefits of breastfeeding can be better targetted.

I would like to know what indicators would best inform the work of local health professionals. Below are a list of twenty example indicators. I would be grateful if you could comment within CEHI (you will need to register but this is very quick and easy) to tell me which could be most important to you. I stress that these indicators are not yet available for areas smaller than Gateshead as a whole, except where indicated otherwise, but could be calculated at ward or other local area level.

i) life expectancy at ward level (currently available at ward level for 2001-2003)
ii) incidence of breastfeeding during the first hour after birth
iii) incidence of breastfeeding at the 6-8 week check
iv) percentage of mothers who smoke at booking of the maternity episode
v) percentage of mothers who smoke at birth
vi) percentage of first year infants living in a household where one or more occupants smoke
vii) low birthweight births (<2500g) as a percentage of all births
viii) percentage uptake of MMR at 2nd birthday
ix) educational attainment (percentage obtaining 5 GCSEs A-C)
x) teenage conception rate per 1,000 females ages 15-17 (three year pooled, currently available at ward level)
xi) uptake of C-card (condom card) rate per 1,000 young people ages 15-17
xii) estimate of smoking prevalence
xiii) uptake of Stop Smoking Service as a percentage of the estimated smoking population (currently available at ward level for 2003/04)
xiv) percentage uptake of cervical cytology
xv) percentage uptake of breast screening
xvi) age-standardised hospital admission rates due to CHD amongst persons under 75 years
xvii) age-standardised hospital admission rates due to lung cancer among persons under 75 years
xviii) age-standardised mortality rate due to CHD among persons under 75 years (five years pooled)
xix) unemployment rate as a percentage of persons ages 16-75 years
xx) percentage of households with no car or van

Please comment to let me know which indicators are important to you.

If you have any other health information queries, I can be contacted on andy.billett@ghpct.nhs.uk