1. Welsh Health Survey Anne Kingdon Welsh Assembly Government Health Promotion Division

2. Background Two health surveys in past –Welsh Health Survey (established 1995) –Health in Wales Survey (established 1985) WHS focus on illness and use of NHS services HIW focus on health behaviours NatCen commissioned to conduct a study to examine the value and feasibility of combining the two surveys

3. Aims of the survey Provide estimates of health status, health determinants and health service use Contribute to setting and monitoring targets and indicators in health strategies and National Service Frameworks Examine differences between population sub-groups (e.g. age, sex, social class) and local areas (health boards and local authorities) Provide a direct measurement of need for health care for NHS resource allocation in Wales Provide local health board and local authority level information for the development of joint local health, social care and well-being strategies

4. Recommendations The HIW Survey and WHS be merged The new survey should collect data for a full year to take account of seasonal variation, and should change from a repeat to a continuous survey Given constraints and the need for a large sample size, a mixed-mode approach should be adopted: –Household interview for household information –Self-completion questionnaire for individual household members

5. Methodology 15 minute face-to-face interview to enumerate the household and get some basic household data 16 page self-completion questionnaire for each household member aged 16+ Data collected continuously throughout the year - initially for two years, starting 1 October 2003 Achieved sample of around 30,000 adults over two years - minimum of 1200 per LA

6. Household Interview For all household members –age, sex, general health, length of time at address Social class of household reference person Housing tenure, house condition Self-completion questionnaires left for all members of the household

7. Individual Questionnaire Health service use Medicines Illnesses General health & well-being Health related behaviours Personal and demographic information

8. Currently - –The pilot survey is running this month –Fieldwork for the main survey starts on 1 October 2003, initially for two years The Future - ?