Impact assessment


Many of the factors that contribute to widening health inequalities and the increasing levels of non-communicable disease in the UK result from decisions made by sectors outside of mainstream health. Proposals affecting the built environment, transport, travel and tourism, work, money sport and leisure , retail and finance all may contribute to health in ways that are both positive and negative.

Impact assessments including Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Equality Impact Assessment are systematic methodologies for joint engagement of all sectors. They assess policies, strategies and proposals and make recommendations for enhancing human health and wellbeing, fairness and equity. Impact assessments are usually carried out before proposals are implemented.

Below are resources relating to impact assessment which have been organised at both a regional and national level.

Key resources


Commissioning - Impact assessment - Regional key resources
Date Title Format View
Jan 2009 Health Impact Assessment - Herne Bay Jan 2009 download resource
May 2009 Health Impact Assessment - Sittingbourne May 09 download resource
Dec 2008 Health Impact Assessment - Summary of findings for Herne Bay 2008 download resource
Dec 2008 Health Impact Assessment - Public Health Management Plan for Herne Bay Dec 08 download resource
16 Feb 2007 Health Impact Assessment - Aylesbury Vale 2007 download resource
Dec 2007 Health Impact Assessment - Wincheap Dec 07 download resource


Commissioning - Impact assessment - National key resources
Date Title Format View
  The HIA Gateway open resource url
  Health Impact Assessment (DH) open resource url


Last review Dec 2009