Developing the third sector business case for health improvement services

One East Midlands and Public Health England are currently working in partnership on an innovative project to support third sector organisations delivering health improvement services across the East Midlands.

The project is associated with the Better Data events, further details of which can be found at www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/betterdataposteventpage, which One East Midlands and Public Health England delivered earlier this year and seeks to support organisations who wish to improve their ability to illustrate the business case for the delivery of health improvement services.

To commence the next phase of the project the project team are looking to identify organisations which provide health improvement services across the East Midlands. Health improvement services are those services which are designed to address health inequalities and impact on the wider determinants of health.*

These services could cover a wide range of issues which could impact the health of local communities. Specific examples of health improvement outcomes include alcohol related hospital admissions, long term conditions, obesity, support services to re-integrate ex offenders, smoking cessation, substance misuse/recovery or teenage pregnancy.

As the second phase of the project evolves the wider aim is to develop a small number of ‘business case’ studies to help illustrate the contribution of third sector organisations to the health improvement agenda.

In this respect we would be particularly interested to identify organisations who feel that there is a strong rationale to support their health improvement activities but perhaps due to lack of resources have been unable research and compile a compelling business case.

If you would be interested in exploring the opportunities to work with Public  Health England to develop a business case to support the work of your organisation contact Richard Hazledine at Public Health England at Richard.Hazledine@phe.gov.uk.


* Health inequalities are defined as preventable and unjust differences in health status experienced by certain population groups. Wider determinants of health are defined as the wider social and economic factors that impact upon health e.g. housing, education, employment.

Public health refers to all organised measures to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations. (Source: World Health Organisation)