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Public Health Wales welcomes Chief Medical Officer's call for a shift to a prevention-first approach to health

Published: 4 December 2025

The Chief Medical Officer’s annual report, published today, has called for a shift to a prevention first approach to health and highlights that successful prevention initiatives have demonstrated the potential for improvements in population health. 

Public Health Wales recognises that Wales faces significant health challenges. This includes a 20-year gap in healthy life expectancy for women between the least and most deprived areas. And there are three times more avoidable deaths in our most deprived communities. 

These gaps are unfair and avoidable. 

Preventable differences in health are a significant challenge for some people and families, the economy, and the NHS in Wales and, without change, health inequalities will continue to cost £322 million a year in hospital costs alone.

Wales faces significant health challenges: 

  • 1 in 4 children grow up in poverty 
  • 7.2 million days lost through sickness absence each year  
  • 18% of homes pose health risks 
  • 50,000 more diabetes cases expected in 10 years  
  • Nearly £1 billion a year – health and productivity costs of air pollution 

Every £1 invested in prevention can return £14 for society and prevention-focused policies can deliver healthier people and a healthier environment, a more resilient NHS, and a stronger and more sustainable economy.   

Public Health Wales is driven to help create a healthy and sustainable Wales, We have developed five key priority areas to achieve this which are – the best start in life builds lifelong health and wellbeing, financial wellbeing drives better health and a prosperous economy, healthy lives start in our everyday places, care tailored to local need builds health and resilience and a healthy planet protects our people now and in the future.

Working together for a healthier Wales: Five policy priorities