What we do
About us
We are a research collaboration, based mainly within universities, with a passion to eliminate health and care inequalities through high quality evidence and innovation. We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy good health and the highest standard of healthcare. Our work draws on the latest machine learning software and is made possible through funding from the NHS.
More information
Latest resources
Dispensing Practices, NHS Funding, and the Geography of Inequality
In 2023, 6,669 general practices received £10.2 billion in NHS funding across England, increasing to £11 billion with COVID-related and Primary Care Network (PCN) payments. Almost 10% of this—£870 million—was allocated to prescribing- and dispensing-related payments, supporting 944 dispensing practices serving 9.5 million patients (£625 million) and 5,537 non-dispensing practices covering 53 million patients (£245 million).
What works: Health and care interventions to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds in returning to work
Return to work interventions seek to address long-term work or sickness absence, but whether they achieve equitable outcomes is unclear. This brief reviews the evidence to identify health and care interventions that support people from disadvantaged backgrounds return to employment.
Blogs
GP Contract 2024/25: More Money, Same Problems?
The additional £899m investment in general practice is a welcome step forward, and its positive impact should not be underestimated. The increase in global sum funding is a strong move, reinforcing the importance of capitation as a foundation for an equitable funding system. However, the Carr-Hill formula, which underpins funding allocation, reflects activity rather than need. The additional investment within the current funding streams shows that simply increasing investment without contract reform risks reinforcing existing funding inequalities.
Early intervention, lasting change: Why Sure Start matters
This blog explores the vital role of Sure Start in improving children’s physical health, social functioning, and neurodevelopmental health – support eroded by austerity-driven cuts. It presents findings from the first systematic review of Sure Start’s health impacts, showing how early intervention reduced hospital admissions, childhood obesity, and improved school readiness. The evidence is clear: restoring Sure Start is key to tackling health inequities and giving every child a fair start in life.