National conversation on health inequalities

Public Health England is launching a national conversation about health inequalities to better understand the English public’s perception and experience.

The context of this proposed National Conversation on Health Inequalities lies in the changes to the structures of the new public health system, including the establishment of Public Health England and the new local public health systems.

This will provide an opportunity to refine the ways in which health inequalities are presented and discussed with the public. Public Health England has a role to protect and improve the public’s health and to reduce inequalities and is keen to understand the public’s perception of health inequalities.

The first phase of the National Conversation programme, which consists of a series of in-depth telephone calls on health inequalities with directors of public health, local councillors and colleagues from the VCS, is already underway.

These phone conversations will provide the background to a set of five social research workshops with community representatives in different areas of the country to help us understand the public’s perception of health inequalities.

This work is not designed to replace local consultation or action on health inequalities, but to inform tools, language and national level action and support the development of Public Health England’s Health and Wellbeing Framework.

To tell Public Health England the three most important issues you think lead to health inequalities for your local communities and send this to national.conversation@phe.gov.uk.

This will help inform their work and enable them to share findings with you when it is developed. It will also help them to plan how the conversation should continue.

You can also talk to your local council about the work they are doing in health inequalities and share your thoughts and ideas with your local Public Health England Centre.