Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a public health and decision support tool which uses a combination of procedures & methods to judge the potential effects (positive and negative impacts) of a policy, programme or project on the health of a given population. The primary aim of HIA is the improvement of the quality of public policy decision making through recommendations to enhance predicted positive health impacts and minimising negative ones
Health Impact Assessment builds on the now generally accepted understanding that a community’s health is not only determined by its health services, but also by a wide range of economic, social, psychological, and environmental influences; this is popularly referred to as the Socio-environmental Model of health. HIA therefore provides the tool for assessing the possible ways in which a policy, programme or project can influence these wider determinants of health, and ultimately impact on the health of a given population. HIA also contribute towards ensuring that health inequalities and the factors that contribute to them are adequately considered in the implementation of projects, programmes or policies.
Ghem consultants undertake HIA for Local Authorities, private & public sector organisations in collaboration with project sponsors, regulatory authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders; and within internationally accepted professional codes of practice. The firm also runs HIA training and workshops for individuals and organisations.
Our team has extensive experience of HIA and health impact research.
Dr Chilaka Marcus, GHEM Principal Consultant and Lead for HIA projects is a highly accomplished academic, researcher and public health specialist. He has in-depth theoretical and practical experience of conducting health impact assessments, having done his Ph.D research evaluating aspects of HIA methodologies. More about Dr Marcus Chilaka.
Housing, Regeneration and Infrastructural development HIAs
Leek Town Centre Masterplanning HIA
HIA of the strategic masterplanning options for Leek Town Centre for NHS North Staffordshire and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
City Waterside Masterplanning HIA
HIA of the masterplanning options and preferred option for the regeneration of the City Waterside area of Stoke-on-Trent.
Middleport Masterplanning HIA
HIA of the masterplanning options and preferred option for the regeneration of the area of Middleport in Stoke-on-Trent.
This was for NHS Stoke-on-Trent and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
MediacityUK HIA
Led the HIA of the multi-million pounds MediacityUK in Salford Manchester, which is one of the biggest media hubs in Europe. Sponsored through the University of Salford Vice Chancellor’s Early Career Researcher Fellowship Award
Knutton Cross Heath Housing Market Renewal HIA
HIA of a regeneration programme under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in an area in Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Staffordshire. This was commissioned by Knutton Cross Heath Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder.
Policy & Healthcare
HIAsCrewe- Nantwich Neighbourhood Renewal HIA
Led the HIA of a long term strategic development policy of a Local Authority in Cheshire. This was commissioned by Crewe Nantwich Local Strategic Partnership/ Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust (CCPCT)
Primary Health Care Services in Fitton Hill Neighbourhood Centre HIA
Team Lead for the HIA to appraise the impacts of new approach of Integrated Health Care facilities. This was commissioned by Oldham Primary Care Trust, Greater Manchester.
HIA of Romiley One-Stop Centre.
Part of the team that assessed the health and wellbeing impacts of the Romiley Integrated Healthcare delivery model. HIA commissioned by Stockport Primary Care Trust, Manchester
Shaw and Crompton Health and Wellbeing centre HIA
Lead Assessor for the HIA of the new build Integrated Healthcare Centre, commissioned by Oldham PCT, Greater Manchester.
Transport & Reclamation Facilities HIAs
Green Line Streetcar Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Scheme
HIA for the business case for this BRT project for Stoke City Council which is part of a series of new BRT routes to be commissioned over the next couple of years.
HIA of waste recycling and reclamation facilities in East Salford
Lead Assessor for the HIA which was commissioned by the East Salford community as part of its drive to have informed guidance in its quest to protest the further citing of waste management facilities within the community.
Capacity building for HIA
HIA training for Senior Environmental Health Officers in Lusaka, Zambia
Lead Facilitator for training 25 Senior EHOs from the various regions in Zambia. The one week intensive course was jointly sponsored by the British Council and the UK Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).
HIA awareness conference for CEOs and captains of industries in Sudan
Guest lecturer for the annual Khartoum Management Forum hosted by the British Council in Sudan. Focus of the events was to create awareness about the application of HIA in national health and development policy. The events were themed Managing health and managing wealth
For more information, enquiries or bespoke training please click here.
