New study reveals ideal locations for polyclinics
Unique research illustrates 150 areas which will reach the maximum number of people with current and future health problems
25.09.08 - The Government's plans for 150 GP-led health centres - or 'polyclinics' - in England will work the most efficiently if they are located in areas identified by new research.
The new study, conducted by demographic analysts CACI, identifies the locations required for polyclinics to treat the maximum number of people with current serious health problems and likely health problems in the future. The study factored in analysis to ensure that the largest number of people possible could reach a polyclinic within 20 minutes of leaving their home. The result is a list which sees some Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) having up to four polyclinics in their area, with some having none.
Ian Thurman, Head of Location Planning at CACI, who headed the research, said: "The Kings Fund warned in its June 2008 report Under One Roof: Will polyclinics deliver integrated care? that location is critical and polyclinics should ideally be developed in transport hubs to provide best access for patients. Our research will help in pointing PCTs and the Government down a route which will maximise patient access across the country.
"At present, PCTs are being asked to consider locations for polyclinics on an individual basis and then make their recommendations to the Department of Health. Our study instead takes an England-wide approach and avoids the scenario where piecemeal polyclinics develop in an inefficient and overlapping network. Tesco or Sainsbury's would develop their national location strategies through a thought-out plan at head office and the same discipline needs to be applied to the roll out of polyclinics."
CACI conducted its research by analysing areas of the country with the highest proportion of people who are currently experiencing serious health problems, those whose current lifestyle means they are likely to have serious health problems in the future, and those whose habits give some possible cause for concern for future health. Each of these groups was weighted to reflect their current cumulative potential impact on future services.
The data was then applied to locations across the country, looking at the type of people living within a 20-minute public transport travel time from the location and giving each area its own Patient Health and Access Score based on population size and health needs. The area with the highest score was defined as the location most in need of a polyclinic.
Lord Darzi's July 2008 report into the future of the NHS, Our NHS Our Future: the NHS Next Stage Review, set no clear timeframe for health authorities to respond with their proposals for new GP-lead health centres but reaffirmed its commitment to "test and evaluate new ways in which PCTs can commission more integrated care ...to achieve more personal, responsive care and better health outcomes for a local population."
CACI's top 30 best locations for polyclinics, using the process outlined above and derived from its HealthACORN methodology, is as follows:
| Area | Patient Health and Access Score* rounded to the nearest 1,000 |
| 1. City of London | 1,004,000 |
| 2. Aston, Birmingham | 829,000 |
| 3. Broad Green, Liverpool | 755,000 |
| 4. Manchester | 686,000 |
| 5. Tottenham | 672,000 |
| 6. Central Sheffield | 647,000 |
| 7. Nottingham | 613,000 |
| 8. Halesowen | 612,000 |
| 9. Lewisham | 601,000 |
| 10. Leeds City Centre | 586,000 |
| 11. Central Newcastle upon Tyne | 585,000 |
| 12. Boldon, Tyneside | 574,000 |
| 13. Walsall | 568,000 |
| 14. Forest Hill, London | 559,000 |
| 15. Croydon | 558,000 |
| 16. Stratford, London | 558,000 |
| 17. Dagenham | 517,000 |
| 18. Leicester | 512,000 |
| 19. Streatham, London | 511,000 |
| 20. Hull | 494,000 |
| 21. Hampstead, London | 488,000 |
| 22. Kensington, London | 485,000 |
| 23. Coventry | 482,000 |
| 24. Wolverhampton | 464,000 |
| 25. Bradford | 464,000 |
| 26. Waterlooville | 440,000 |
| 27. South Manchester | 433,000 |
| 28. Chingford, East London | 424,000 |
| 29. East Birmingham | 415,000 |
| 30. Welling, London | 409,000 |
* Figures derived by identifying people within a 20-minute public transport travel time and then applying a factor of 4 for a those with current serious health problems, a factor of 3 for those likely to present future serious health problems, a factor of 2 for those exhibiting some concerns for future health, and 1 for those with no current serious health problems or causes for concern in the future. Groups defined using CACI's HealthACORN methodology.
Further information: Graeme Buck / Emily Luscombe, Camargue, tel 020 7636 7366.
Notes to editors
About HealthACORN:
HealthACORN analysis is produced using a unique combination of official data and commercial information from lifestyle surveys, market research and Census data. It is produced by CACI in conjunction with market information company TNS.
HealthACORN uses data from Britain's 1.9 million postcodes, which have been described using more than 125 demographic statistics with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, taking into account 287 lifestyle variables.
ACORN stands for A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods.