Policy Context for the Tools
To support Primary Care Trusts and local authorities, the Association of Public Health Observatories and Department of Health have developed the Health
Inequalities Intervention Tools. These tools are designed to support evidence-based local service planning and commissioning, including Joint Strategic Needs
Assessments.
The tools show the causes of death which are driving local health inequalities, with breakdowns by gender and age. They also show the impact evidence-based
interventions can have on local health inequality gaps.
We are producing a new, enhanced intervention tool, with improved ease of use and presentation of information. As new data, and other improvements,
become available they will be posted on this page. We welcome feedback, including any changes or enhancements you would like to see, by e-mailing us
Health Inequalities National Target
The national health inequalities Public Service Agreement target is to: "Reduce health inequalities by 10% by 2010 as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy at birth."
This target is underpinned by two more detailed objectives:
- starting with children under one year, by 2010 to reduce by at least 10 per cent the gap in mortality between the routine and manual group and the population as a whole;
- starting with local authorities, by 2010 to reduce by at least 10 per cent the gap in life expectancy at birth between the fifth of areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators (the Spearhead Group) and the population as a whole.
Tackling health inequalities and achieving the PSA target remains a key priority for the NHS as set out in the NHS Operating Framework 2009-10, and for local authorities as part of Local Area Agreements.
The Spearhead group provides a focus on those areas with, on average, the worst health, mortality and deprivation. However, health inequalities exist within all areas, not just Spearheads and all areas have a role in tackling them.
The Tools
There are currently two tools, one for Spearhead areas only and one for all areas. To assist Spearhead Primary Care Trusts and local authorities in planning to
meet the life expectancy element of the national target, the Spearhead area tool addresses the life expectancy gap between a whole Spearhead area and the England
average. The tool for all areas provides all English local authorities, and the PCTs that map to them, with information on within, as well as between, area
inequalities. The tools can also be used to support planning to meet local targets set within Local Area Agreements, or as national priorities within the 2007
Operating Framework, particularly the Vital Signs and LAA National Indicator Set indicator for reducing All Age All Cause Mortality.
New Spearhead Tool
The Spearhead Tool has been revised and enhanced for 2009, and now includes the latest data for 2005-07. This provides updated information on gaps in life
expectancy between Spearhead areas and England as a whole.
The earlier version of the Spearhead Tool, released in 2007, remains available. This provides information on gaps in life expectancy based on data for 2003-05,
allows users to compare changes over time and also allows Spearhead areas to model the effect of specific interventions on their life expectancy gap. Please note
that the information on interventions has not yet been updated in the 2009 tool.
Click here to access The Health Inequalities Intervention Tool for Spearheads and supporting documentation
Health Inequalities Intervention Tool for All Areas
The existing Health Inequalities Intervention Tool for All Areas (2008) covers all local authorities in England, Spearhead and non-Spearhead, and provides
information on within, as well as between, area inequalities. The tool provides data on gaps in life expectancy between the most deprived quintile of each local
authority and a range of comparator areas, including an analysis of the causes of death which contribute most to these gaps.
The tool also allows local authorities to estimate the effect on their life expectancy if certain evidence based interventions are increased.
Click here to access The Health Inequalities Intervention Tool for All Areas (2008) and supporting documentation
Coming soon: planned developments
The Association of Public Health Observatories is currently working with the Department of Health to produce an enhanced intervention tool, with improved ease of
use and presentation of information and combining all elements of the previous tools into a single interface. Planned enhancements include:
- Adding latest 2005-07 data to the Spearhead Tool [Completed]
- Incorporating new evidence-based interventions for increasing life expectancy [expected winter 2009/10]
- Adding new data for the All Areas Tool [expected spring 2010]
A new element to help tackle inequalities in infant mortality [expected autumn 2009] which will:
- Identify risk factors contributing to infant deaths in the Routine and Manual group in local populations and quantify their contribution to infant mortality
- Help tackle individual challenges in reducing inequalities in infant mortality
- Examine trends in infant death rates in the population as a whole and in the Routine and Manual group
Your views
We would welcome the opinions of users as the new intervention tool is developed. Please send us your views, including on changes or enhancements you would
like to see, by e-mailing us
The Health Inequalities Intervention Tools were developed by the Association of Public Health Observatories, working in partnership with the Department of Health.