The Health Development Agency, which has taken over from the now defunct Health Education Authority, was launched on June 2.
One of the HDA's roles will be to provide the latest evidence on how best to reduce health inequalities. To achieve this, it is to publish in the summer a database-driven website called "Evidence base 2000". This is intended to provide information on what works when it comes to improving health. Initially, it will concentrate on the "Our healthier nation" targets for cancer, coronary heart disease and strokes, mental health and accidents.
An HDA press release says that the website will be developed in stages. In its first stage it will provide access to HDA databases, with links to other evidence-based websites and sources of public health evidence. It will have a search engine format, so that users will be able to search by topic, region or type of project, intervention or research.
Launching the agency, the Minister for Public Health (Ms Yvette Cooper) said: "The HDA will play a major role in improving the health of the worst off, so that people on low incomes and benefits get the same chances for a healthy life as the rest of the population. We will start to tackle this huge task by providing professionals with the most up to date information possible on what works in health improvement and supporting them to do their jobs better."
The HDA is a special health authority and has an annual budget of £10m. It has a website at www.hda-online.org.uk.