Tackling health inequalities: 2004-06 data and policy update for the 2010 national target

This document provides an update on progress to meet the health inequalities national target to reduce the gap as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy, by 10% by 2010. It includes an assessment of whether the 70 spearhead area local authorities, which map to 62 PCTs, are on track to meet the life expectancy target.

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.

Tackling health inequalities: 2005-07 policy and data update for the 2010 national target

This document provides an update on progress to meet the health inequalities national target to reduce the gap as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy, by 10% by 2010. It includes an assessment of whether the 70 spearhead area local authorities, which map to 62 PCTs, are on track to meet the life expectancy target.

Tackling health inequalities: Ten years on

This report reviews developments in health inequalities over the last 10 years across government - from the publication of the Acheson report on health inequalities in November 1998 to the announcement of the post-2010 strategic review of health inequalities in November 2008. It covers developments across government on the wider social determinants of health, and the role of the NHS. It provides an assessment of developments against the Acheson report, reviews a range of key data sets covering social, economic, health and environmental indicators, and considers lessons learned and challenges for the future.

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.

The London Health Inequalities Strategy - Draft for public consultation

This is the very first Health Inequality Strategy to be published for public consultation by the London Mayor. As such it represents a momentous step forward in galvanising action across London to address the health inequalities which prevent many Londoners from enjoying their life to the full and making the most of what London has to offer. The Greater London Authority Act 2007 requires that the strategy identifies the health inequalities, the priorities for reducing them and the role to be played by a defined list of key partners in order to implement the strategy. It defines health inequalities as inequalities in respect of life expectancy or general state of health which are wholly or partly a result of differences in respect of general health determinants۪, which it describes as: (a) standards of housing, transport services or public safety; (b) employment prospects, earning capacity and any other matters that affect levels of prosperity; (c) the degree of ease or difficulty with which persons have access to public services; (d) the use, or level of use, of tobacco, alcohol or other substances, and any other matters of personal behaviour or lifestyle, that are or may be harmful to health, and any other matters that are determinants of life expectancy or the state of health of persons generally, other than genetic or biological factors.

Guide for World Class Commissioners Promoting Health and Well-being: Reducing Inequalities

One of the core missions of commissioners is to reduce health inequalities. Promoting health and well-being is necessary but not sufficient, and it is essential thatimprovements in commissioning and consequent improvements in service delivery, will not widen the gapbetween different groups in society. It is, of course,already difficult enough to decide how to commission services to promote health and well-being. There are practical, economic and ethical issues involved, but if in addition the commissioner wishes to ensure that the gap between the most healthy and the least healthy does not widen, they will have to think hard and commission carefully. It is also crystal clear that it would be wrong to let 152 Primary Care Trusts find out for themselves how to do this. Firstly, it would be a massive waste of resources, and secondly, many Primary Care Trusts would be unable to deliver. This Guide has been produced by knowledge harvesting; by gathering the knowledge that commissioners have created and accrued, about successes as well as failures; and blending it into a single readable Guide.

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

Closing the gap: Setting local targets to reduce health inequalities

This briefing paper provides a summary of the policies, theory and practice of setting targets to reduce health inequalities. It offers some guidance for those responsible for setting local targets and sets this in the context of local experience drawn from documentary evidence from health improvement programmes (HImPs), community strategies and health action zones (HAZs).

Health monitoring for black and minority ethnic groups

This paper explores some aspects of health monitoring in relation to black and ethnic minority populations in London. It considers where research in London and elsewhere has shown evidence of inequalities between ethnic groups, and draws out the issues for recording, analysis and sharing of ethnic-specific data.

Improving Health and Reducing Inequalities: A Practical Guide to Health Impact Assessment

(WHIASU) A basic guide to conducting a HIA. 1. Health impact assessment is a tool that can help organisations to assess the possible consequences of their decisions on people۪s health and well-being, thereby helping to develop more integrated policies and programmes. 2. This document has been developed as a practical guide to health impact assessment. It is designed to meet the needs of a variety of organisations by explaining the concept, the process and its flexibility, and by providing templates that can be adjusted to suit. 3. The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to developing the use of health impact assessment in Wales as a part of its strategy to improve health and wellbeing and to reduce health inequalities. This practical guide has been prepared by the Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit, which was established by the Welsh Assembly Government to encourage and support organisations and groups in Wales to use the approach. 4. The development and use of health impact assessment will contribute to the ongoing development and implementation of local health, social care and wellbeing strategies, which is a joint statutory responsibility for Local Health Boards and local authorities. It can also contribute to Community Strategies which, given their overarching nature and breadth and depth, can address social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and to the implementation of Communities First, the Welsh Assembly Government۪s crosscutting regeneration programme. 5. The development of Health Challenge Wales as the national focus for improving health in Wales reinforces efforts to prevent ill health. Tools such as health impact assessment can help organisations and groups in all sectors to identify ways in which they can help people to improve their health.

Learning Disabilities and Health

This factsheet on learning disability has been compiled by the Department of Health South East. It highlights the health inequalities experienced by those with learning disabilities and summarises the main health-related issues. It details key publications such as 'Valuing People Now', which was launched in Jan-09, and provides information about strategies, resources and national drivers including Local Area Agreements. It can serve as a useful tool for PCTs, commissioners, those involved in service development, and those with a public health remit in order to improve practice and health outcomes among those with learning disability at both local and regional levels. For further information contact: Jonathan Campion (jonathan.campion@dh.gsi.gov.uk) or Jo Nurse (jo.nurse@dh.gsi.gov.uk)

Cancer inequalities in South Central Strategic Health Authority

This is the second in a series of reports describing cancer inequalities across South Central Strategic Health Authority. Focusing on the four most common cancers (lung, colorectal, breast and prostate), it examines inequalities in access to and quality of care, in relation to age, sex, deprivation and area of residence.

Health Development Agency Delivery Plan 2003-06

This plan sets out the contribution the Health Development Agency (HDA) aims to make over the next three years to the cross-government objective of improving public health and reducing health inequalities. It reflects clear guidance given to the HDA by the minister for public health following the HDA۪s 2002 accountability review. The result is a smaller number of longer-term programmes fosused on four key delivery priorities: ۢ Underlying determinants of health ۢ The big killers coronary heart disease and cancer ۢ Children and young people ۢ Vulnerable adults