The need for health care--a pilot survey with general practice.

A feasibility study was carried out in two places in Wiltshire of a method of ascertaining the morbidity of the population. Traditional medical history taking and examination of the individuals were completed in a random sample of the population, of whom 89 per cent were contacted. The method appears feasible for a survey of sufficient size to measure morbidity and the study gave useful preliminary indications of unmet health care need. The cost of such a larger survey would be small in relation to the sums involved in health care planning.