Priority setting with Health Inequality Impact Assessment

The imperative to reduce health inequalities whilst keeping within budget m eans that Health Authorities must prioritise to gain maximum benefit from a vailable resources. Health Inequality Impact Assessment (HIIA) rapid apprai sal has been developed by Bro Taf Health Authority to ensure that planning produces positive effects for disadvantaged people. HIIA rapid appraisal co nsists of assessing the effect of deprivation on the planning topic, examin ing the relevant evidence, defining opportunities for action and rating the se relative to their likely impact on health inequalities. The process is b est carried out by a multidisciplinary team including health authority, loc al authority, voluntary sector and community representatives. This paper de scribes a HIIA rapid appraisal process, that resulted in a Trust that serve s a highly disadvantaged locality agreeing to try a new method of working a nd to collaborate in research oil breaking the cycle of deprivation.