Understanding hotspots of health disadvantage: Challenges and opportunities [Workshop]

Health needs and health inequalities are not evenly geographically distributed. In order to address this health services and systems have to identify areas of greatest need, so they can respond proportionately and target prevention activities. Broader changes such as migration, gentrification and social housing reforms mean that the distribution of health needs is also rapidly changing. Historical pockets of locational disadvantage may no longer be the areas that services should focus on. Without an accurate understanding of social needs, the preventable use of clinical services, and the decision-making context at local levels, investment may be mis-targeted. This workshop will provide a brief overview of approaches to identifying hotspots of health disadvantage, based on case studies that:profile locational health disadvantage at the suburb levelanalyse potentially preventable hospitalisation datadescribe experiences in identifying and tackling local needs from the Healthy Cities movement.The workshop will focus on (i) establishing shared challenges to identifying hotspots, and (ii) identifying opportunities and potential solutions for health services and systems