What a fabulous month March has been (well, so far). First there was my birthday, and then the sun came out. As I write this it is still fine outside – 19 degrees in March! Who would have thought it?

But of course, I am missing the most important thing. On the 15th March we launched the new FOREquity web site. I’m sure everybody has seen it, but just in case there are one or two of you who haven’t, you can find it at https://forequity.uk. Don’t do what I just did, I googled ‘for equity’ and got loads of sites about investing.

The site is the result of partnership working between ARC NWC and the SPHR (School for Public Health Research). Both are part of the NIHR, and what excited me about it was that it now on a national platform, not just a NW one. That will hopefully mean that (in time) Health Equity will be embedded in all health research across the Country. It included a number of resources that we can use as well as information and case studies.

So, what’s new about it? Firstly, the HIAT, or Health Inequality Assessment Tool. The old HIAT concentrated on Social Determinants as the sole causes of Health Inequalities. For example, living in a deprived urban area as opposed to a wealthy rural one. The new HIAT has brought this up to date and considers Intersectionality. That basically means all things that might intersect on a person’s life. For example, having a disability.

The other new thing is in the title – Equity. I experienced a major lightbulb moment when I was in the old Health Inequalities sub group of the CLAHRC when I was shown the difference between Equality and Equity. We were shown the pictures of the three boys trying to watch a baseball game by looking over a fence. Health Equality is creating a ‘level playing field’ where most people benefit. Health Equity is making reasonable adjustments to the level playing field so that everybody benefits. In my experience it’s the Health Equality that costs the money, and the Health Equity that just needs a caring mind set and a willingness to make a difference – especially for vulnerable people.

Finally, I just want to mention that later in the Spring we will be launching a new training package on FOREquity. It is in the planning stage at the moment and will include sessions on the HIAT as well as Equity. It looks really good to me, and I hope that a lot of people (PAs and researchers) will sign up.

Have a great Easter everybody.

Alan