Levelling Up: Securing health improvement by promoting social inclusion – a cross border action plan for the North West of Ireland August 2008 Helen McAvoy and Karen Meehan

Overview This report presents a cross-border action plan to tackle health inequalities in the North West, as developed by Derry Well Woman and the Cross- Border Women’s Health Network with a range of statutory and voluntary partners. The report also includes a contextual piece with locally relevant data and discussion on social inclusion and health inequalities in the North West.

Priority action areas : health inequalities in the North West Mental health – suicide, Traveller women, postnatal depression and domestic violence. Cancer – cross border planning of curative services and palliative care. Education – cross border planning and working on social inclusion, literacy and early school leaving.

Priority action areas : health inequalities in the North West Local government – integrated cross border planning of transport, water and waste, childcare and play facilities. Specific actions for vulnerable groups: –Women living with domestic violence –New mothers and their babies –Lone parent families –Older women –Women and children with disabilities –Traveller women