§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what indicators his Department uses to monitor the health status of(a) infants and children, (b) adults and (c) pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [8875]
§ Ms JowellThe Department makes use of a wide range of information on births and deaths registrations, population surveys and health service information to gain an understanding of the health status of different groups in the population.
Sources available in the Library include:
the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report, a key element of which is a review of the health status of the general population;the Public Health Common Data Set, which includes a wide variety of indicators;Health of the Nation Briefing Packs, which include information on progress towards a limited range of targets.I announced on 7 July our intention to develop a new strategy for a healthier nation. It will take account of population groups—children, the working age population and elderly people—and priorities will be chosen where there is clear scope for measurable progress.