ABSTRACT
'Health needs assessment is a systematic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities and resource allocation that will improve health and reduce inequalities.' Health Needs Assessment is a recommended public health tool to provide evidence about a population on which to plan services and address health inequalities. It provides an opportunity to engage with specific populations and enables them to contribute to targeted service planning and resource allocation. It also provides an opportunity for cross-sectoral partnership working and developing creative and effective interventions. The challenges of Health Needs Assessment are: developing a shared language between sectors, accessing relevant data, accessing the target population, maintaining team impetus and commitment, and translating findings into effective action.
