Priority setting with Health Inequality Impact Assessment

The imperative to reduce health inequalities whilst keeping within budget means that Health Authorities must prioritise to gain maximum benefit from available resources. Health Inequality Impact Assessment (HIIA) rapid appraisal has been developed by Bro Taf Health Authority to ensure that planning produces positive effects for disadvantaged people. HIIA rapid appraisal consists of assessing the effect of deprivation on the planning topic, examining the relevant evidence, defining opportunities for action and rating these relative to their likely impact on health inequalities. The process is best carried out by a multidisciplinary team including health authority, local authority, voluntary sector and community representatives. This paper describes a HIIA rapid appraisal process, that resulted in a Trust that serves a highly disadvantaged locality agreeing to try a new method of working and to collaborate in research on breaking the cycle of deprivation. Public Health (2001) 115, 272–276