THE SPATIAL-ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY-HEALTH SERVICES ON WIRRAL USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

This paper discusses the development of a geographical information sys tem (GIS) for analysing the spatial distribution of community-based he alth services and the patients who use them on the Wirral peninsula in North West England. Information, with full geographical coding, has b een obtained about General Practitioners (GPs) on the Wirral and the s ervices they provide, together with the location; age and sex of the p atients registered with them. Data have also been assembled on the ser vices provided at local clinics. This is augmented with information on administrative boundaries and the street network held in digital form , and with statistical information for small areas covering demographi c structure, social conditions and deprivation. The GIS is being used to identify catchment areas for different services and to produce demo graphic, social and residential profiles for the patients who use them .