HEALTH chiefs have built up a profile of the population within the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust's area.

The profile provides statistical data, age and gender structures at primary care trust level, district council level and ward level as well as providing regional and national comparisons.

The web-based health profile is expected to be an invaluable tool for practitioners in health, social care, and economic and community regeneration when profiling their local communities and neighbourhoods.

Director of public health Dr Phil Kirby said: "This health profile highlights the complex nature of the Primary Care Trust's population, from the sparsely populated areas that emphasise our rurality, to the more densely populated areas around market towns.

"The profile also highlights our population of service personnel and families in Catterick Garrison, Topcliffe and Leeming that are mobile and have a very young age profile.

"The profile is the first step towards a greater understanding of where inequalities in health exist in Hambleton and Richmondshire.

"The second step will be the publication of a further section in September this year with data on levels of deprivation, inequalities and areas of unmet need."

The profile can be accessed on www.hambrichpct.org.uk