Health impact assessments: what are they?
Health in All That we Do’, or as it is sometimes referred ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) is defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘an approach to public policies across sectors that systematically takes into account the health implications of decisions, seeks synergies, and avoids harmful health impacts in order to improve population health and health equity.”
Put simply, it is about considering the (positive and negative) health impacts of policies, programmes, or decisions. It also aims to tackle health inequities. This approach then seeks to identify solutions to maximise positive and minimise negative impacts.
‘Health in All That We Do’ recognises the importance of many external factors on health outcomes and health needs. These factors are sometimes known as the ‘wider determinants of health’ and include things like transport, housing, employment, income, education, deprivation, and the environment. Often these factors are controlled by policies and actions outside the health sector.
Our health is about much more than good healthcare services. It is affected by our lifestyle and behaviours (such as smoking), our circumstances (such as education and housing) and our environment (like access to green spaces and transport).
‘Health in All That We Do’ can be used to maximise the health impacts of local government policy. This might include things like:
- Better walking and cycling routes to promote ‘active travel’
- Safe and easy access to green, open spaces to promote mental wellbeing
- Housing development that ensures warm homes and reduced social isolation.
Often taking this approach doesn’t require any extra work. It can be part of what we do in our roles every day. In local government, we already have many of the policy levers which can make a big difference (such as a health and wellbeing policy framework in a Local Plan, or consideration of alcohol-related harm in licensing decisions).
The benefits can be much broader than improving health and help achieve wider goals (e.g. more active travel would also mean reduced traffic congestion, and better air quality). It is seeing health as both an outcome, and an enabler – and an acceptance that “Health is Everybody’s Business”.
Health Impact Assessments (HIAs)
A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a tool that we use to consider the impact on health of policies, programmes or decisions and to tackle health inequalities. By completing a HIA we are able to ensure that we minimise potential negative consequences for everybody.
The purpose of an HIA is to ascertain whether the impact on health of a particular proposal is acceptable or not. They assist decision-makers by giving them better information, but do not make the decision for them. The approach uses a range of quantitative, qualitative and participatory techniques.
HIAs give invaluable information not only about potential effects on health, but also how to manage them. It therefore provides the opportunity to amend the design of a proposed development to protect and improve health.
We will be adding templates to this page shortly to give you further information and provide HIA templates.
- Animation – (awaiting content)• HIA Guidance – (awaiting content)
- HIA Core template – (awaiting content)
- HIA Comprehensive template – (awaiting content)
For more information or support to complete a HIA, please contact: the Public Health and Prevention Team Publichealth@staffordshire.gov.uk