History of GIS use in the WMCIU
Following a water contamination incident in Worcester in 1994, the West Midlands Regional Health Authority proposed the establishment of a regional service, based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assist in the surveillance of such environmental incidents and potential hazards in the future. The establishment of such a service was also seen to present an opportunity to improve the co-ordination and integration of data sets useful for public health surveillance across the region.
A Health GIS Service was setup and operated within the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit until 2005 when regional funding ran dry. A geographic information function has continued to operate within the WMCIU funded by the cancer registry and UK Association of Cancer Registry budgets.
The current work of the Geographic Information Specialist supports the provision of regional and national cancer statistics and the web based UK Cancer Information Service. The integration of health, socio-demographic and environmental data in GIS is used in epidemiological studies and cancer service analyses. The cancer registries make use of public sector geographic data and non-geographic data sets available nationally and locally.
GIS Specialist, Cancer Information
Diane Edwards
Tel: 0121 414 8070
E-mail: diane.edwards@wmciu.nhs.uk
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