Measuring change in health care equity using small-area administrative data - Evidence from the English NHS 2001-2008

► Surveys contain limited data on health care utilisation and may select unrepresentative samples of disadvantaged populations. ► We measure change in socio-economic equity in health care using detailed administrative data on health care utilisation. ► Our approach covers the entire population but only examines equity at neighbourhood level rather than individual level. ► During the 2000s, the English NHS underwent accelerated expenditure growth and pro-competition reform. ► Socio-economic equity in health care in England did not deteriorate between 2001 and 2008, and if anything may have slightly improved.