Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for health services meeting local population needs. Appropriate service commissioning and service provision is inextricably linked to local health needs assessments (NAs). The importance of understanding the needs of a local population to inform commissioning and ensure service content and configuration is appropriate to meet local needs, is a significant responsibility.

Options UK has extensive experience of undertaking health needs assessments across England. We were jointly commissioned by the National Support Teams for Sexual Health and Teenage Pregnancy in 2007 to develop a How To Guide for Sexual Health Needs Assessments. This document provides guidance to those who are responsible for the planning, commissioning and delivery of sexual health services (this includes PCTs, service commissioners and service providers) on how to design and implement a sexual health needs assessment (SHNA).

Options UK can undertake health needs assessments (rapid and comprehensive) for a range of health service areas including children and young people and sexual health.

 

Examples of Options UK's needs assessments work includes:

• Children and Young People – East Sussex
• SHNA including Wakefield, Kingston, Leicestershire and Rutland, Medway, East Sussex, and North East Lincolnshire
• Health needs assessments for homeless people in Hastings