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Community Health Needs Assessment
The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) began at
Greenwich CDA in October 2005, it has been developed
from the original Community Needs Assessments carried out by the GTPCT when establishing the first food access
projects in South Greenwich, and then used by the HGN over the last 3 years. A new role of Community Health
Development Worker was recruited to GCDA, their role is to evaluate the community’s need for projects
that reduce health inequality (community health needs assessment).
From December 2005 - April 2006 the first integrated Community Health Needs Assessment
(CHNA) was carried out in the area of Eynsham (Abbey Wood) in
wider partnership with Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust, with funding from Neighbourhood Renewal (NR).
The main areas for consideration when carrying out a community health needs assessment are community
demographics, then physical and social structures and finally a community questionnaire. The resulting
report endeavours to identify opportunity, need and interest in establishing the following health projects
which are delivered in partnership with Age Concern, Volunteers Greenwich and Greenwich Teaching Primary
Care Trust:
- Food Access and Nutrition
- Active for Health - a physical activity project
- Age Concern - Health Ageing project
- Smoking Cessation Services
- Health Training for Community Health Promoters (a Department of Health pilot)
- Community Mental Health
BAME & hard to reach communities
These specialist team members joined GCDA in November 2006 after the Sahara Asian Project
closed. This project has the same role as the project described above but focuses on particular
population groups rather than physical areas to ensure GCDA reach those in greatest need. The project
objective, as above, is to work with the community in supporting them to improve their own health
through lifestyle changes.
The two workers between them have trained as Community Health Promoters, Cookery Club Leaders, Smoking
Cessation Advisors and Chair-based exercise leaders. This training has enhanced the project and has given
the workers the tools to motivate and support individuals in various health promotion activities such as
healthy eating and the benefits of exercise.
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