One of the earliest (and most frequently quoted) applications of geographic information relates to health and social improvement. In 1852 Dr John Snow against medical opinion at the time argued that the disease cholera was spread through contaminated water. It wasn't until 2 years later when an outbreak of the disease struck the city of London that he was able to prove his theory. By mapping the location of outbreaks of the disease he was able to demonstrate that the outbreaks were clustered in particular geographic regions around contaminated water pumps. The handles were removed from contaminated pumps and the outbreak was contained. Snow's classic study offers one of the most convincing arguments for the value of understanding and resolving social problems through the use of geographic information. Geographic information as a tool for solving present day health and social problems is no less powerful. GI has the potential to help deliver on several governement policies related to this sector such as New Targeting Social Need (NTSN), Equaltiy, Investing for Health and other Social Inclusion policies. The benefits that can be realise include improve quality of service, better allocation of resources, targeting of areas of social need, associated cost benefits from improved services and allocation of resources all of which in turn will help improve the health and social status of the population.