Interactive mapping invaluable to Public Health
18 February 2011, NHS Wales Informatics ServiceAn interactive mapping tool, known as Health Maps Wales, offers readily available population data and trends and is allowing Public Health to predict patterns of where ill health might occur.
A variety of other organisations also use Health Maps Wales such as the health service, local and central government, clinical networks, researchers and academia.
It offers data on hospital admissions, mortality, cancer incidence, and many other health categories, allowing users to analyse data in geographic areas across Wales. It also provides valuable support to Public Health professionals, allowing them to quickly uncover patterns, trends or anything irregular, providing vital information for more in-depth investigative work where appropriate.
“Health Maps Wales is a very welcome development,” says Nathan Lester, Head of Observatory Analytical Team, Public Health Wales. “It’s a great tool for exploring patterns in public health and healthcare data and can be used to stimulate more in-depth analysis. We often signpost Health Maps Wales to our stakeholders, who really appreciate having such a wide range of indicators available to view.”
Last year, Health Maps Wales was visited more than 5000 times, mostly by NHS staff and government agencies, but also by medical councils, universities, and charities.
There are continual updates to the tool, based on feedback from NHS Wales staff and these will be available on the NWIS website.
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