Lessons from health action zones (Choosing Health? briefing)

The government launched the health action zone (HAZ) initiative in 1997. Twenty-six HAZs were set up as seven-year pilot projects ‘to explore mechanisms for breaking through current organisational boundaries to tackle inequalities and deliver better services'. HAZs were meant not only to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities, but also to act as trailblazers for new ways of local working. HAZs have now been incorporated into the development of primary care trusts.