Work Area / Health
Inequalities / HEA
Health Equity Audit
This section aims to inform local health
equity audit (HEA) work. They signpost to definitions, guidance
and current HEA practice in the Yorkshire and Humber region and
elsewhere. YHPHO’s intention is to add further relevant content
as it becomes available.
Definitions
Overview of a Health Equity Audit
HEA identifies how fairly services or other resources are distributed
in relation to the health needs of different groups and areas, and
the priority action to provide services relative to need. The overall
aim is not to distribute resources equally but rather, relative
to health need.
This process assists the planning and decision-making processes
of organizations. It determines whether the distribution of health
outcomes, healthcare or the determinants of health are inequitable
or unrelated to need, and action is then taken to remedy and monitor
progress.
The HEA provides a framework for systematic action to tackle health,
and it is embedded as a requirement of NHS service planning.
HEA uses data on health inequalities to support decisions at all
levels. Appropriate comparisons are made across area, ethnicity,
socio-economic group, gender and age. Another important distinction
is that an HEA considers the whole local population, rather than
just service users.
Derived from “Clarifying
Approaches to Health Equity Audit” (HDA)
Guidance
Health equity audit - learning from practice briefing
This briefing is one of a series of publications on HEA published by the HDA and NICE. It provides a summary of learning from three workshops on HEA, and examples of completed or near-completed HEAs to illustrate these learning points.
Health equity audit - learning from practice briefing
HEA A Guide for the NHS (DOH)
This guide provides a briefing note plus good practice guidance
to support achievement of the Priorities and Planning Framework
requirement to conduct Health Equity Audits to inform NHS service
planning and commissioning.
HEA-A
Guide for the NHS (DOH)
Health Equity Audit Made Simple (HDA / APHO)
This briefing is intended to provide practical support to Primary
Care Trusts working with partners in the NHS and local strategic
partnerships to undertake health equity audits.
Health
Equity Audit Made Simple (HDA / APHO)
Making
the Case: Health Equity Audit (HDA)
Aims to provide guidance to the NHS and local government on undertaking
health equity audits.
Making
the Case: Health Equity Audit (HDA)
Clarifying
Approaches to Health Equity Audit (HDA)
Clarifying
Approaches to Health Equity Audit (HDA)
PDF Download here.
Tools
HEA A Self-Assessment Tool
This tool has been developed to support PCTs addressing organisational
development issues underpinning the HEA process.
HEA A Self-Assessment Tool
Requirements on PCTs
According to the 2005-2008 NHS Planning Guidance all PCTs and their
partner organisations should be able to demonstrate that they have
taken account of the inequity and inequalities within the local
population, based on audit, in respect of areas such as ethnicity,
gender, age and socio-economic group.
Here is a brief summary of the 2005 Performance Indicator Health
Equity Audit from the Improving Health section of indicators.
Below is a link to the definition for the Health Equity Audit
indicator of the 2005 Performance Indicators:
Case Studies
A list of ongoing and completed Health Equity Audits/profiles. If
you wish to add any HEAs/HEPs to this list please contact Simon Orange
at spo500@york.ac.uk.
Yorkshire and the Humber
Rest of England
Updated 22/09/08