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Scottish Health and Inequalities Impact Assessment Network

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Welcome to the Scottish Health and Inequalities Impact Assessment Network (SHIIAN) webpages. The network aims to develop and support Health Impact Assessment and other forms of impact assessment in Scotland.

The Scottish Health and Inequalities Impact Assessment Network

The Scottish Health and Inequalities Impact Assessment Network is co-ordinated by NHS Health Scotland and is open to anyone working or planning to work on health impact assessments (HIA) and health inequalities impact assessments in Scotland. The network has been running since 2001, following the recommendation of the Review of the Public Health Function. We have recently started to work more closely with colleagues in Health Scotland, specifically the Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN) (external link) and the team developing Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (HIIA).

The network communicates regularly by email to share ideas, issues and experiences. There are smaller working groups that undertake specific tasks, including the development of resources to support HIA.

Our evidence guide about HIA and housing improvements has just been updated and can be downloaded from the ScotPHN website (external link). Presentations from the housing guide launch in February 2013 are also available.

Meetings are organised about specific themes or projects that are of interest to members and the wider public health and health improvement community. To find out more, join our mailing list by contacting: martin.higgins@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Aim

To increase the application and quality of Health Impact Assessments (including Health Inequalities Impact Assessment) and improve coverage of health issues in other assessment processes in order to contribute to improvements in policies and plans that will enhance population health and reduce health inequalities.

Objectives

1. To increase the visibility and credibility of SHIIAN as a source of advice and support with HIA
2. To promote the use of HIA and HIIA
3. To improve coverage of health, including differential impacts, in other assessment processes
4. To improve access to high quality evidence for use in HIA and other assessments

Scottish HIA Network meeting minutes

Assets and Equally Well presentation (Etive Currie) to SHIAN - June 2011

Scottish Government Health Inequalities Impact Assessment pilot presentation to SHIAN -- June 2011

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 3 December 2009

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 11 June 2009

Presentation about health issues in SEA made to Scottish HIA Network meeting June 2009

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 04 December 2008

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 05 June 2008

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 06 December 2007

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 21 June 2007

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 14 December 2006

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 15 June 2006

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 6 December 2005

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 26 May 2005

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 7 December 2004

Minutes of Scottish HIA Network – 11 June 2004

Minutes of HIA Network – 10 December 2003

Minutes of HIA Network – 17 June 2003

Minutes of HIA Network – 3 December 2002

Reviewed 17 April 2013

New

NHS Health Scotland now supports integrated impact assessment work in NHS Boards. Our Health Inequalities Impact Assessment page includes guidance and advice about how to conduct an assessment. The focus on health inequalities, equality and diversity and human rights means this is groundbreaking work.

The 13th International Health Impact Assessment conference (external website) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland between 2 and 4 October 2013.


Details of other International HIA conferences are listed on the HIA Gateway (external website).

Scottish HIA Network e-learning course

The course is available from the NHS Health Scotland Virtual Learning Environment.



If you would like to set up a training session in Scotland that utilises the e-learning course, please contact: martin.higgins@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Tel: 0131 465 5492



Longer (three and five day) HIA training courses are offered by a number of providers in the British Isles. Details about future courses are usually posted on the HIA Gateway (external link) website.

Scottish HIA Network evidence guides

Health Impact Assessment of Housing Improvements: A Guide (2013) (external link)

Health Impact Assessment of Greenspace: a Guide (2008) (external link) 

Health Impact Assessment of Transport Initiatives: A Guide (2007)

Scottish HIA Network ´How to´ Guides

How to use the Rapid Impact Assessment checklist for Health Impact Screening covers some basic principles of HIA and the steps to take in doing a HIA screening. It provides specific guidance about the Lothian Rapid Impact Assessment checklist (external link).

How to do Health Impact Assessment: a guide for practitioners describes the steps to take in conducting a detailed HIA.

These guides assume that practitioners already have some basic public health skills. They do not include detailed guidance on particular methods that may be used within HIA (such as critical appraisal or qualitative research methods) as other sources of guidance on these are available.