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Health Poverty Index Scoping Study Consultation Events BACKGROUND The NHS Plan (2000) states that "no injustice is greater than the inequalities in health which scar our nation" and proposes a number of developments to combat this situation. The South East Public Health Observatory (SEPHO) and Oxford University, Department of Social Policy and Social Work (DSPSW) are undertaking a scoping study commissioned by the Department of Health, to assess the need and feasibility of the production of a Health Poverty Index to underpin work on reducing inequalities. An important element of this work is to include a significant degree of consultation with the potential user community. Workshops have been arranged throughout England and will inform the study about how people are using information on inequalities, which indicators are being used and about the skills of potential users of small area statistics. We are keen to ensure that this consultation involves NHS users, local and regional government users, the voluntary sector and academic users with relevant interest and experience in the concepts and uses of a health poverty index. The workshops aim to obtain views on the following questions: · What might a Health Poverty Index include? · What is the current NHS service community experience of measuring and interpreting health poverty? · What do they need? · What do they want? · How they might use it? The future success of a Health Poverty Index, if developed, will depend on the NHS and associated communities having the opportunity to input into its development. MEETING DATES AND VENUES 5th March 2001 - from 1pm Skipton House, Department of Health, London 12th March 2001 - from 1pm Earnshaw Hall, Sheffield University 15th March 2001 - from 1pm County Hall, Durham 19th March 2001 - from 1pm Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford 20th March 2001 - from 1pm Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs 23rd March 2001 - from 1pm Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon 26th March 2001 - from 1pm Birmingham & Midland Institute, Birmingham 30th March 2001 - from 1pm Tate Gallery, Liverpool 5th April 2001 - from 1pm Mithras House, University of Brighton To reserve a place at any of the above meetings, please contact: Louise Farmer, Observatory Administrator, South East Public Health Observatory, Institute of Health Sciences, Old Road, Oxford, OX3 7LF Tel and Fax: 01865 226835 or Email: [log in to unmask] www.sepho.org.uk