Combined Authority Overview
WMCA Local Authority Level
Open the WMCA local authority dashboard.
A Framework for Health and Economic Opportunity Across the West Midlands
An integrated evidence base to help WMCA and local authorities identify where poor health and weak economic opportunity overlap, and where targeted place-based action can have the greatest impact.
Why This Matters
Health and economic disadvantage are often mutually reinforcing
- Hidden Variation: Local authority headlines can hide sharp neighbourhood variation. This platform keeps a regional view while showing where need is concentrated within Sandwell, Dudley and the wider WMCA footprint.
- Smarter Targeting: Bringing economy, health, healthcare quality and wider determinants together helps local partners identify where joined-up action is likely to have the greatest payoff.
What The Framework Includes
Four evidence layers, one common platform
Economic Index
Composite ward-level economic conditions combining productivity (GVA per resident), economic inactivity rate and broad unemployment rate.
Health Outcome Index
Composite ward-level health outcomes spanning child health, emergency hospital admissions, mental health (SAMHI), all-cause mortality and life expectancy at birth.
Healthcare Quality and Access Index
Composite ward-level index combining preventable mortality (aged under 75) and access to health-related assets and hazards (AHAH health service domain).
Wider Determinants Index
Composite ward-level index combining deprivation domains (income, employment, education, crime, housing barriers, living environment), fuel poverty, air quality and green/bluespace access.
Explore By Geography