CMO report is further evidence of urgency to prioritise prevention

Responding to the Chief Medical Officer for Wales’ annual report and calls for an urgent shift towards a prevention-first approach to health, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes said:

“NHS leaders in Wales welcome the report’s clear call for a prevention-first approach to health. This echoes NHS leaders' calls to shift from treating illness to promoting wellbeing, supported by a cross-government strategy to reduce inequalities, tackle wider determinants of health and empower people to take an active role in their own wellbeing.

“It is deeply concerning that health life expectancy - the average number of years people in Wales can expect to live in good health - is declining, particularly for women. Public health programmes deliver an average return of 14 to 1, proving that investment in prevention makes both moral and financial sense and is vital for the sustainability of our health and care services.

“While significant work is already underway across the NHS, local authorities and wider partners, more must be done, and organisations must be enabled to go further. The report also highlights urgent workforce challenges and the need for investment in digital transformation to improve productivity, patient experience and outcomes.

“We urge those seeking to form the next Welsh Government to take head of these recommendations to inform their policies.”