The Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU) is based in the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on ‘Investment for Health and Well-being’, Policy and International Health Directorate, Public Health Wales.
This site provides information on the Wales HIA Support Unit, Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and the process as practiced in Wales, news and recent developments. It provides a resource to those currently practicing HIA, policy makers and those who are new to the process and who are looking for information and evidence. There are links to completed HIAs in Wales and other HIA activities from the Unit, for example training and information plus links to useful resources and guides.
Latest News
New report: The health, well-being and equity impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement on Wales
This report provides a short summary of the findings of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement on Wales. This report is a high-level, evidence-based strategic overview. It summarises the main health, well-being and equity impacts that could potentially occur in the short and longer-term following the UK’s […]
The CPTPP trade deal is a major threat to public health and warrants a health impact assessment (HIA)
A new journal paper has been published in the BMJ with co-authors from the WHIASU team, which looks at the health implications of the UK’s decision to join one of the world’s largest free trade agreements, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The paper recommends that the government should perform a health […]
HIA Network of Practice – Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) Event
This session for the HIA Network of Practice will be focusing on Integrated Impact Assessments (IIA). Speakers will explore a range of perspectives and experiences of using and designing IIAs. This will include developing an online IIA tool, how to incorporate health, undertaking Quality Assurance, and WHIASU’s own approach. We will then open the floor for […]
Predicted and observed impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns: two Health Impact Assessments in Scotland and Wales
Health Impact Assessment is a key approach used internationally to identify positive or negative impacts of policies, plans and proposals on health and well-being. In 2020, HIAs were undertaken in Scotland and Wales to identify the potential health and well-being impacts of the ‘stay at home’ and physical distancing measures implemented at the start of […]
Facilitators, Barriers and Views on the Role of Public Health Institutes in Promoting and Using Health Impact Assessment – An International Virtual Scoping Survey and Expert Interviews
Public health institutes have an important role in promoting and protecting the health and well-being of populations. A key focus of such institutes are the wider determinants of health, embracing the need to advocate for ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP). A valuable tool to support this is the health impact assessment. This scoping study aims […]
New report: Protecting the mental wellbeing of our future generations: learning from COVID-19 for the long term. A Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment Approach.
This comprehensive Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment (MWIA) has been carried out by the Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated policy responses, on the mental wellbeing of young people aged 10-24 in Wales. The report aims to provide evidence and learning to inform cross-sector policy and […]