Help
Please see below for a list of frequently asked questions about the HNA toolkit.
About the toolkit
A: The toolkit provides easy access to data and analyses to support needs assessment. It provides ready
to print and download information for over 200 indicators of health needs. Outputs are provided in a variety of formats, including charts,
maps and data tables, all with comprehensive metadata. Data is provided at various geographies, ranging from areas smaller than electoral
wards, to local authorities and clusters. London and England benchmarks are provided for all indicators. The tool is publicly available,
meaning it can be accessed by anyone involved in local planning, commissioning or strategic needs assessment.
A: Currently, anyone can access the Toolkit. It does not require connection to an NHS network and there is
no need to register or provide any personal details.
A: The HNA Toolkit sources, analyses and presents routine data in order that commissioning organisations
can more effectively use local knowledge, expertise, and insight. The
user guide provides basic information on using the toolkit. If
you would like to request a demonstration or training session, please get in touch via the
contact us page.
A: The toolkit is developed in line with user requirements and user-engagement activities have played an important
part in its development to date. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for future user events, please let us know via the
contact us page.
A: The Clinical and Health Intelligence Team are happy to help with any enquiries. Please contact
charlotte.fellows@csl.nhs.uk or call 020 7685 6801 in the first instance.
A: The toolkit is updated quarterly and in line with the publication of source data, but some time must also be allocated for
quality assurance and data loading. The
data refresh schedule details the last update and next expected update for each indicator.
A: The toolkit is updated quarterly. The
data refresh schedule details the last update and next expected update for each indicator.
Refresh schedules for individual indicators are dependent on the publication schedules for source data, which are beyond our control.
A: The indicators not included are those where data is not available, definitions are incomplete, and/or meaningful graphical presentation is problematic.
A: We have rigorous quality assurance processes in place. All data loaded into the toolkit has been thoroughly checked and validated. If,
however, you have any concerns about accuracy, we would be happy to discuss. Please contact
charlotte.fellows@csl.nhs.uk or call 020 7685 6801 in the first instance.
Using the toolkit
A: Where possible, data are presented at local authority level. Most London PCTs are coterminous with a single local authority.
The exceptions are Sutton & Merton and City & Hackney, both of which cover two local authorities. In order to display data for two local authorities, most chart
types allow the selection of a comparator area. For a few indicators, PCT is the lowest level of data available. If one of these indicators is chosen, the data
for the relevant PCT is assigned to the local authority for display purposes.
A: This is one way of selecting your indicator. It groups indicators in line with the domains of the joint strategic needs assessment core dataset.
A: This section groups indicators into thematic areas such as cancer, circulatory disease, housing & environment etc. Some indicators appear in
more than one thematic area. Within a thematic area, the indicators are ordered alphabetically.
A: Appropriate chart types are pre-defined for each indicator.
A: You can save the chart as an image, copy and paste it, print preview, and print the chart image.
A: You can sort the chart data, select the colour scheme and toggle the chart legend.
A: For all chart types, the dataset for the selected indicator is also displayed in tabular format.
A: Comprehensive metadata is provided in the user guide.
A: The Toolkit uses Dundas charting tools and Microsoft's Visual Studio.NET, Sharepoint and SQL Server.