The 123 Approach to Health Inequalities supports you to understand and address health inequalities, helping to improve patient experience across the cancer pathway. It focuses on making practical changes within your own role, with ongoing support beyond the training itself.
We bring together all the guidance, resources and support needed by participants and facilitators to put the 123 Approach into practice and stay connected.
This section brings together practical tools you can use straight away to help turn your ideas into action. Resources include tools focused on specific protected characteristics (e.g. summary of religious views) and more general resources (e.g. accessibility checklist).
These tools are designed to be quick to use, adaptable to different roles and settings, and helpful whether you’re just getting started or refining a Change One Thing.
Health Inequalities is Everyone's Business How To Guides
Health Inequalities Supporting Information
Health Inequalities 10 Point Checklist
Gender in Cancer Services Guidance
Resources to support your Change One Thing, ongoing learning and continued involvement.
Support completing your Change One Thing:
This section is here to help you turn learning from the 123 Approach into a practical, achievable Change One Thing in your role or service.
You’ll find:
- Simple guidance to help you get started and shape your idea
- Examples of Change One Things to spark ideas and show what’s possible
- Tools and data to help you plan, test and describe your change
- Tips for overcoming common barriers, such as time pressures or getting buy‑in
- Signposting to further support if you need help refining, implementing or sharing your change
Your Change One Thing doesn’t have to be big. Small, thoughtful changes - especially those shaped by patient experience - can make a real difference.
Simple Guidance:
Examples of Change one Things:
Examples by Job Role Examples by Time
Tools and Data:
Sources of Patient Experience Data
Tips for Overcoming Common Barriers:
Reframing your Change One Thing Change One Thing: When time or capacity is limited
Signpost to Further Support:
Resources to support delivery, implementation and promotion of the 123 Approach.
About the Role:
Organisational Lead Role Description
Before the Training:
Promotional materials:
Delivering the Training:
You can find a downloadable version of the presentation to deliver the training on the Futures website, or contact the HIPE team.
Training Delivery: Facilitator Guidance Document
Change One Thing: Facilitator Guidance
Training Completion Spreadsheet
Training Attendance and Change One Thing Submission Form
After the Training:
FAQs:
What if engagement is low during a session?
A: Low engagement is not uncommon, particularly when discussing health inequalities, which can feel complex or emotionally challenging.
Helpful approaches include:
- Recognising that participants will already be doing a lot to address health inequalities and helping them to identify this
- Reassuring participants that they are not expected to have all the answers
- Using patient stories or practical examples to bring the content closer to everyday practice
- Encouraging reflection rather than discussion, for example allowing quiet thinking or written responses
- Normalising uncertainty and reminding participants that small steps matter
Engagement often increases when people understand that the focus is on practical, achievable action, not expertise.
What if engagement is low across the organisation, not just in training sessions?
A: For organisational leads, low uptake can be addressed by:
- Promoting the training to a wide range of roles, not just clinical staff
- Linking the 123 Approach to existing priorities, such as patient experience, EHIAs, quality improvement or workforce development
- Use the promotional materials to keep the training visible over time, rather than treating it as a one‑off activity
- Sharing real examples of Change One Thing actions (with permission) and the impact it is having, particularly small or early‑stage changes
What should we do if participants submit very ambitious Change One Thing ideas?
A: This is a common and positive response, showing motivation and awareness. However, some ideas may sit beyond the participant’s role, influence or current capacity.
Facilitators and leads can:
- Acknowledge the intent behind the idea
- Help participants break it down into a smaller, achievable first step
- Encourage reflection on what is within their control or influence
The aim is to support momentum, not perfection.
Is it ok to challenge or reshape a Change One Thing submission?
A: Yes but this should be done supportively and collaboratively. Change One Thing is a reflective tool, not a performance measure. The focus should be on:
- Learning and thinking differently
- Trying something small
- Building confidence over time
It is fine to suggest that a change is aspirational, longer‑term, or better suited to wider organisational planning.
What if a participant asks a question and I am unsure of the answer?
A: Facilitators are not expected to act as specialist advisors. It is appropriate to:
- Acknowledge the question
- Be honest if you don't know the answer or if it sits outside the session’s scope
- Signpost to relevant teams, the 123 Approach resources, the organisational lead or the CMCA Health Inequalities and Patient Experience Team ccf-tr.hipe@nhs.net
How do facilitators and organisational leads work together?
A: The roles are complementary:
- Facilitators focus on delivering the 123 Approach training, learning and discussion
- Organisational leads focus on the promotion, coordination and embedding of the wider 123 Approach programme
Regular communication and shared reflection help ensure consistency while allowing local flexibility.
This section helps you stay connected with the 123 Approach community, share learning, hear about updates and opportunities, and continue developing your Change One Thing alongside others working to reduce health inequalities.
Join the Health Inequalities Staff Network
Sign up for the Health Inequalities and Patient Experience Team Newsletter via email ccf-tr.hipe@nhs.net
Share your Change One Thing case studies with us to use to help inspire others! Fill in the form.