"The traditional view of the overall health field is criticized and a new perspective embracing the environment, life style, human biology and health care is presented.  Spatial variations and distributional patterns in the UK of premature death from coronary artery disease in males and females, lung-bronchus cancer in males, cancer of the female breast, and 'All Causes' for both sexes are described and analysed at national, regional, district and intra-urban scale.  High risk and low risk areas/communities for premature death from selected diseases are listed as indicators of local health status."