This should promote better understanding of what is needed and the application of what should be done. He also questioned whether this could also be an economic regeneration. It involves how individuals interact with their family and the community, with strong evidence on the impact of this. Health Impact Assessment is about how a range of aspects are changed by policy and the effect that this has on the community. The Unit is looking at how Health Impact Assessment can go forward with academically useful work that is also of value to local authorities and health authorities.
Health is difficult to measure because it is subjective.
She detailed what the different centres within the Institute covered, and how the Centre for Applied social Research related to the uphill factors identified with its work on social exclusion and promoting social and economic regeneration. Professor Cook identified these as the two essential foci that all projects spring from. Professor Cook closed by identifying the outcome of establishing a source of collaborative engagement taking on board the hard to access groups using both social and spacial views. He set out the background of this work which is focused around urban regeneration projects and using the Black Country as a teaching tool for CURS students. Dr Beazley detailed current research work and teaching being undertaken and confirmed that he was developing closer links with Dr Parry and the Health Impact Assessment Research Unit.