Screening for health impacts in Local Area Planning in Donegal County Council (2004)

In 2004 an interagency team consisting of members the North Western Health Board and Donegal County Council commissioned the IPH to conduct a HIA screening exercise on planning policy in Donegal. This involved an overview of literature, analysis of policy documents, contact with Planning Officers and observation of public consultation meetings. Following completion of the final report, the intention is to produce a user-friendly template to enable planners to incorporate a health dimension into their decision making.

Planning Practice Guidance

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published National Planning Practice Guidance which recognises the importance of local infrastructure planning in the development of healthy communities. The guidance supports the National Planning Policy Framework and now includes a section on health and wellbeing. This guidance sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied by local authorities. A significant development in the guidance is the recognition of the important role the planning system can play in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. Local planning authorities should ensure that health and wellbeing, and health infrastructure are considered in local and neighbourhood plans and in planning decision making.

Health Inequalities Intervention Tool (2008)

This tool is designed to support Primary Care Trusts with their Local Delivery Planning and commissioning

Health inequalities intervention tool - presentation slides

The Spearhead Intervention Tool has been commissioned by the Department of Health through the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO). This version of the tool has been updated with latest data for 2005-07. The tool is designed to assist commissioners in Spearhead Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with their Local Delivery Planning (LDP) and commissioning and to assist Spearhead Local Authorities (LAs) with the delivery of Local Area Agreements (LAAs). It highlights key issues for Spearhead PCTs and LAs to consider in order to achieve the life expectancy element of the Government۪s Public Service Agreement (PSA) on health inequalities by 2010.

Health Inequalities Intervention Tool for Spearheads 2009 (Click SAVE NOT OPEN when prompted)

The Spearhead Intervention Tool has been commissioned by the Department of Health through the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO). This version of the tool has been updated with latest data for 2005-07. The tool is designed to assist commissioners in Spearhead Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with their Local Delivery Planning (LDP) and commissioning and to assist Spearhead Local Authorities (LAs) with the delivery of Local Area Agreements (LAAs). It highlights key issues for Spearhead PCTs and LAs to consider in order to achieve the life expectancy element of the Government̢?Ts Public Service Agreement (PSA) on health inequalities by 2010.

Health Inequalities Intervention Tool for Spearheads

The Spearhead Intervention Tool has been commissioned by the Department of Health through the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO). This version of the tool has been updated with latest data for 2005-07. The tool is designed to assist commissioners in Spearhead Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with their Local Delivery Planning (LDP) and commissioning and to assist Spearhead Local Authorities (LAs) with the delivery of Local Area Agreements (LAAs). It highlights key issues for Spearhead PCTs and LAs to consider in order to achieve the life expectancy element of the Government۪s Public Service Agreement (PSA) on health inequalities by 2010.

Health Inequalities Intervention Toolkit

This Health Inequalities Intervention Toolkit, developed jointly by the Association of Public Health Observatories and the Department of Health, focuses on improving life expectancy and infant mortality rates, especially in disadvantaged areas. Based on local authority boundaries, it is designed to assist evidence-based local service planning and commissioning, including Joint Strategic Needs Assessments. The Toolkit does this by providing information on the diseases, which are causing low life expectancy in individual areas, enabling good local priority setting. The Toolkit was originally designed to support achievement of the national Public Service Agreement target to: "Reduce health inequalities by 10% by 2010 as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy at birth." Although the PSA target has now ended, the Toolkit should still be useful to the NHS and local government, supporting planning to narrow inequalities in life expectancy and infant mortality

Health Inequalities Intervention Tool (2011)

The Health Inequalities Intervention Tool has been commissioned by the Department of Health through the Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO). The tool is designed to assist commissioners in Spearhead Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with their Local Delivery Planning (LDP) and commissioning and to assist Spearhead Local Authorities (LAs) with the delivery of Local Area Agreements (LAAs). It highlights key issues for Spearhead PCTs and LAs to consider in order to achieve the life expectancy element of the Government's Public Service Agreement (PSA) on health inequalities by 2010

IPH response to Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department for Regional Development Spatial Strategies

The remit of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is to promote cooperation for public health between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the areas of research and information, capacity building and policy advice. Our approach is to support Departments of Health and their agencies in both jurisdictions, and maximise the benefits of all-island cooperation to achieve practical benefits for people in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As an all-island body, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland particularly welcomes that the Framework for Collaboration has been co-produced by the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In addition the Institute of Public Health welcomes a more holistic approach to spatial planning that takes into account the environment and sustainable economic development. A clean environment and a more equitable distribution of prosperity have associated health benefits, as outlined in the IPH’s Active travel – healthy lives (2011) and Health impacts of the built environment- a review (2006).

IPH response to Draft Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022

The Regional Planning Guidelines (RPG) for the Greater Dublin Area 2010-2022 (draft) is a policy document which aims to direct the future growth of the Greater Dublin Area over the medium to long term and works to implement the strategic planning framework set out in the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) published in 2002.  A series of recommendations have been made to Local Authorities clearly linked to and supporting the national investment in transport, particularly public transport, under Transport 21.  The draft was prepared and agreed for public consultation. The IPH response  to the consultation reports on how the RPG may impact on health and makes recommendations to maximise opportunities for health gain and minimise health loss.

Planning for Dementia Care in Ireland: Conference Proceedings

The Conference, which took place on 4th June 1999 in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, marked the publication of the Councilâ?Ts latest report â?" An Action Plan for Dementia.  The Action Plan takes as its guiding principle the recognition of the individuality of the person with dementia and of his or her needs. It outlines an approach to developing available, accessible and high quality services in the context of existing resources and public expenditure constraints. Its aim is to describe a best practice model of dementia care in Ireland â?" a model which may inform and guide policy makers and others involved in planning service provision, and which may give support and assistance to those who endeavour to provide flexible services at the local level. Download the Report here

Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England

The Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England provides a snapshot of the extent of tobacco use, tobacco related harm, and measures being taken to reduce this harm at a local level. These profiles have been designed to help local government and health services to assess the effect of tobacco use on their local populations. They will inform commissioning and planning decisions to tackle tobacco use and improve the health of local communities. The tool allows you to compare your local authority against other local authorities in the region and benchmark your local authority against the England average.

Health Equity Audit Made Simple: A briefing for Primary Care Trusts and Local Strategic Partnerships

A working/ consultation document outlining the key drivers and steps for undertaking health equity audit as required in the Performance and Planning Framework (PPF) 2003-2006

The Provision of Schools and the Planning System

This Code of Practice sets out best practice approaches that should be followed by planning authorities in ensuring that the planning system plays its full part in facilitating the timely and cost-effective roll-out of school facilities by the Department of Education and Science and in line with the principles of proper planning and sustainable development. Complementing and expanding on previous planning guidelines issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) in 2007 on the preparation of development plans (2007), these guidelines also include details of how: the Department of Education and Science will support the work of planning authorities in their planning functions, and planning authorities can complement and build on such interaction through site identification and acquisition

Local action on health inequalities: practice resources

These documents explain factors contributing to inequality in public health and set out methods for local bodies to reduce them. Documents The Marmot Review (2010) made a range of recommendations to reduce health inequalities in England. Building on the Review, the UCL Institute of Health Equity has produced 4 papers which include evidence, and examples of practical action that can be taken at a local level to reduce health inequalities. They are designed for people working in local services, particularly: directors of public health and public health teams people working in local authorities services that may influence health and wellbeing, such as planning health and wellbeing boards These practice resources build on a series of papers published in 2014 to support local action on health inequalities.