Study series

Health Survey for England

Tracking the health of the nation

The Health Survey for England is an annual survey that monitors the health of the nation. It is an authorative source of health statistics, with trends going back to 1993. The most recent publication is the Health Survey for England 2010.

The NHS and the Department of Health use this series to track progress towards national health targets and improve health policy. The survey records trends in the public's health, estimates the proportion of people who have specific health conditions, and tells us about the prevalence of risk factors associated with these health conditions. You can:

Read about the Health Survey for England 2010

Read about the Health Survey for England 2009

Read about the Health Survey for England 2008

Read about the Health Survey for England 2007

Read about the Health Survey for England 2006

Read about the Health Survey for England 2005

Read about the Health Survey for England 2004

Asking the right questions

People who take part in the survey are asked to complete a health interview and a health examination. This is important because it means that we collect objective as well as self-reported data.

Our interviewers speak to the general population, not just people who are in touch with health services. This allows us to capture information about undiagnosed and untreated conditions.

Topics covered

Each year the survey provides data on core topics such as general health, smoking and drinking, and objective measures including height, weight and blood pressure.

Modules of questions are also asked on specific health issues such as cardiovascular disease, physical activity or respiratory conditions. These modules vary from year to year depending on the survey focus.

The survey data may be enhanced by linking with information from the death and cancer registers and hospital episode statistics.

NatCen works in partnership with UCL to deliver the Health Survey for England. The survey is commissioned by The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.