Wales must urgently shift towards a prevention-first approach to health to tackle stagnating life expectancy and mounting pressures on the NHS, according to the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report, published today.
The report, Reflecting on our Health, warns that life expectancy is declining, particularly in deprived areas, with more people living longer periods in poor health. Alarmingly, around 75% of deaths in people under 75 in Wales are preventable, underscoring the need for accelerated action.
Successful prevention initiatives, such as tobacco control, demonstrate the potential for significant improvements. If smoking rates had remained unchanged over the past decade, Wales would have 170,000 additional smokers. Reducing smoking prevalence from the current 10% to 8% could prevent 600 smoking-related deaths and 2,700 hospital admissions annually.
The report calls for a whole-society approach, including addressing social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and supporting parents and early years education programmes for low-income families. Alongside that, the report has urged encouraging vaccination and screening uptake and helping adults to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Key findings include:
- Healthy life expectancy in Wales is declining, particularly among women.
- Public health programmes deliver an average return on investment of 14:1.
- Without urgent action, the number of people living with four or more long-term conditions could almost double by 2035.
- Preventable ill-health is driving economic inactivity and increasing costs.
To strengthen prevention efforts, the CMO has established a Preventing Ill-Health Advisory Group to provide national leadership and ensure prevention is embedded in ministerial advice. The Welsh Government is also introducing legislation requiring specified public bodies to consider the long-term health impact of decisions in sectors such as housing, education and transport.
Welsh Chief Medical Officer Professor Isabel Oliver said:
“I decided to take the role of CMO in Wales because I want to work with the people of Wales to make this focus on prevention a reality. I was attracted to our progressive strategies and policies that, if effectively implemented, will transform the health of the people of Wales.
“But this is a major challenge to our health service leaders. It also demands changes in society, and at an individual level, so that health is recognised as a responsibility – as well as a right – for everyone in Wales.
“The evidence is clear – prevention is incredible value for money. Ahead of next week’s Senedd vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, there is no room for complacency - we need to see smoker rates continue to decrease. But we also need to replicate the progress in tobacco control across other areas – such as healthy eating and exercise.”
The report sends a clear message: prevention is essential to improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and easing pressure on health services.
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