Official health statistics is a unique guide which examines the different types of 'official' health statistics, discusses how these data are collected, then analyses how the data are used in interpreting statistical information. The text also comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the various data sets. The book is organised into three sections: data sources about the measurement of ill health in the population; on social inequalities and the environment; official sources of information on the NHS and local authorities. In each section the main source publications and the statistics they contain are referenced.