The document outlines various health and social care surveys managed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, including the Health Survey for England, Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use survey, and the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. These surveys aim to gather data on lifestyle behaviors and health trends to inform policy and service planning. Additionally, it highlights the importance of these surveys in identifying at-risk populations and monitoring changes in health over time.

1. Population surveys
Providing a local picture of the nation’s
health and wellbeing

2. 2 Copyright © 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre
Our surveys
We can commission and manage contracts to carry
out surveys on all aspects of health and social care.
Currently the surveys we manage include:
Health Survey for England
The Health Survey for England (HSE) has been
monitoring the nation’s health since 1991. It is used
by the government to plan health services and make
important policy decisions that have an impact on all
of us.
For example, the survey alerted GPs to the fact that
lots of older people weren’t aware that they had
kidney disease. As a result, GPs are now much more
vigilant for early symptoms. Findings from HSE have
also led to health awareness campaigns such as the
“5-a-day campaign” which encourages people to eat
five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Since 2011 the HSE has included questions funded by
external bodies.This widensthescopeof theinformation
collected and enhances the value of the survey.
View the highlights of the 2012 survey at
www.hscic.gov.uk/health-survey-england
Health Survey for England: Blood bank
Around 100,000 blood samples have been taken
and stored for analysis as part of the HSE since 1994.
Researchers are able to apply for permission to use
these samples for the purposes of secondary analysis.
Find out how to apply for research access
www.hscic.gov.uk/bloodbankproject
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use
Amongst Young People
This is an annual survey completed by pupils in
years 7-11 in participating schools across England to
provide national estimates and information on the
smoking, drinking and drug use behaviours of young
people aged 11-15.
The aim of the survey is to provide accurate statistics
that can be used to inform policy and planning and
enable schools to better understand and plan around
pupils’ lifestyle behaviours.
Each year around one in ten secondary schools
in England is randomly selected to take part in
the survey. In each school 35 pupils are randomly
selected to take part in the survey.
Download the findings from the latest
survey at www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/sdd12
Population surveys – Providing a local picture of the nation’s health and wellbeing
Providing information to support better care
The Health and Social Care Information Centre is the leading provider
of information on key lifestyles behaviours such as diet, smoking and
drinking and public health data on screening.
Our resources can help identify which groups might be most at risk,
monitor inequalities, compare outcomes and highlight where there
may be pressure points on services.

3. Copyright © 2014 Health and Social Care Information Centre 3
Population surveys – Providing a local picture of the nation’s health and wellbeing
Dental Health Survey of Children and
Young People
This survey has been carried out every ten years since
the first edition in 1973. It helps the NHS understand
how the dental health of successive generations of
children is changing over time across England, Wales
and Northern Ireland
The sample of around 1,000 primary and secondary
schools is chosen at random to represent the full
geographical spread of the survey. Each child
participating in the survey has a short check-up
with a dentist at their school. Children in secondary
schools are also asked to complete a short paper
questionnaire about their dental health.
The 2013 edition will be the first in the series to be
managed by the HSCIC and results are expected to
be published early in 2015.
Adult Dental Health Survey
The 2009 Adult’s Dental Health Survey (ADHS) was
the fifth in a series that was established as long ago
as 1968. Like the Children and Young People’s survey,
it is conducted every ten years.
The purpose of the survey is to track changes in adult
dental health over time. The sample is chosen by
randomly selecting addresses across England, Wales
and Northern Ireland to ensure that a representative
picture is attained. Respondents take part in a face
to face interview which is followed by a short dental
examination in their home.
Download the findings from the latest Adult
Dental Health Survey at
www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/
dentalsurveyfullreport09
Infant Feeding Survey
The Infant Feeding Survey (IFS) was first conducted
in 1975 and has been carried out every five
years since then. The 2010 IFS was the eighth
national survey of infant feeding practices to be
conducted. The main objective of the survey is to
provide estimates on the incidence, prevalence,
and duration of breastfeeding and other feeding
practices adopted by mothers in the first eight to ten
months after their baby was born.
It is a postal survey and the 2010 IFS sampled all
births registered from August to October 2010 in
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Download the findings from the latest survey
www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/infantfeeding10final
Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (also known as
National Study of Health and Wellbeing) runs every
seven years. Since 1993, it has been uncovering how
everyday stresses, strains and joys of life affect the
health of people living in England.
For the 2014 edition the research team will interview
8,000 adults aged 16 and over from across England.
The research is conducted via a face to face interview
and uses addresses chosen random to ensure we
attain a representative picture of everyone living in
England.
Download the findings from the latest survey
www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/psychiatricmorbidity07

4. Population surveys – Providing a local picture of the nation’s health and wellbeing
Survey of Carers in Households
The Survey of Carers in Households was run in
England in 2007 to establish the prevalence of caring
in England, the demographic profile of carer and the
impact of caring duties upon themselves.
Carers over 16 were identified via a short screening
questionnaire at randomly selected postcodes. They
were then asked to take part in a face to face interview.
Download the findings from the latest survey
www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/carersurvey0910
What About Youth?
The ‘What About Youth?’ survey 2014 is the first of its
type. It will collect data on a range of factors, such as
smoking, drinking, drug use, emotional wellbeing, diet
and physical activity amongst 15 year olds in England.
The survey is undergoing a large scale trial early in
2014. If this is successful, a main stage survey will
be carried out in late 2014 with outputs expected in
late 2015.
The key feature of ‘What About Youth?’ is that sample
size has been designed to produce outputs that are
reliable and robust at a Local Authority level. This
would enable comparisons with other LAs as well as
the national average.
www.hscic.gov.uk 0845 300 6016 enquiries@hscic.gov.uk
We are the trusted national provider of high-quality information,
data and IT systems for health and social care
What we can do for you
Our analysts and data experts have experience of running complex health surveys.
We can carry out surveys on behalf of other organisations, both local and national. The service includes:
• offering advice on running and commissioning surveys
• commissioning and managing whole surveys
• adding questions in existing surveys
• adding sample boosts in existing surveys.
A sample boost involves carrying out additional questionnaires to build a more robust sample depending on
customer requirements, for example additional surveys could be conducted for a certain geographical area or a
certain demographic group.
Contact us to discuss your survey requirement
surveys.queries@hscic.gov.uk
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