Development of a health need index

Associate Professor Robert Gibberd

The Health Services Research Group (HSRG) has prepared two reports on estimating a health need index for the NSW Area Health Services and for the Queensland region. Further refinements were made in the 2000 health need index which forms part of the NSW Resource Distribution Formula. The relationship between health need and socio-economic variables, mortality rates, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander persons (ATSI) and bed supply were examined in the development of the 2000 index. HSRG is also involved in developing need indices for NSW Department of Ageing and Disability and the General Practice Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services. An NHMRC Grant has been used to develop Health Need Indices for Victoria and Queensland.