Health Needs Assessment
What is it?
The patient journey should start with the Health Needs Assessment. The health needs assessment (HNA) is a tool that has been developed to assist patients to identify the things they require the most support with. It comprises of 24 generic questions and 15 questions that relate to long term conditions.
The NHA helps health professionals to identify the needs of the patient and target resources more effectively, offering a more personalised support to patients with chronic health conditions.
The HNA helps health professionals to identify the needs of the patient and target resources more effectively, offering a more personalised support to patients with chronic health conditions.
Clinical staff are encouraged to use the health needs assessment with patients to help them outline the problems that are important to them and which will impact on their lives and well-being. The HNA can also be used as part of the process of reviewing patients.
There are quality-checked resources for each aspect of the Health Needs Assessment, which are available from the Public Health Resource Centre.
