The NHS has long since operated on a "diagnose and treat" model, reacting to illness rather than preventing it. As Lord Darzi’s report on the performance of the NHS highlighted, this approach is no longer sustainable. The NHS must now place prevention at the heart of its policy to improve population health outcomes, support our ageing population, reduce hospital pressures, and create a more financially viable system. 

Why Prevention Must Be Prioritised to Support the System 

Austerity, long-term underfunding, and the pandemic have left the NHS in a fragile state. A well-funded, system-wide prevention strategy could reduce demand on overstretched hospitals, tackle growing inequalities in health outcomes, and improve the nation’s overall wellbeing. Instead of funneling ever-increasing resources into hospitals, decision makers should redirect investment towards primary, community care, public health initiatives, and social determinants of health. 

NHS performance metrics have traditionally been focused on hospital performance data, such as acute waiting lists and bed occupancy levels, which fail to provide a full picture of the health and care system’s effectiveness. A truly preventative model requires performance metrics that incorporate primary care and community services data to provide a true picture of how the whole service is performing.  

Key Drivers of Change for the System:  

Shifting Care Closer to Home

One of the most significant findings of the Darzi Report was that too many people end up in hospitals due to a lack of community-based services. Spending on hospitals has increased from 47% to 58% of the NHS budget between 2006 and 2022. Integrating health and social care closer to home will mean people receive the right support before their conditions escalate to the point of requiring acute care. 

Investment in Public Health 

Cuts to the public health grant have weakened local services and early intervention schemes. This has exacerbated long-term health issues, increasing future NHS costs. Restoring public health funding is a crucial step in building a healthier population and reducing the strain on acute services.  

Technology and Innovation 

AI and digital health solutions can enhance predictive healthcare, helping clinicians identify risks before they escalate into serious conditions. Long-term underinvestment in NHS infrastructure has hindered the rollout of modern digital tools, especially in primary and community care. The NHS cannot fully realise the benefits of a prevention-first approach without technology.  

Addressing Social Determinants of Health 

The NHS cannot improve population health alone. The Darzi Report highlighted the severe deterioration in the nation’s health due to poor-quality housing, economic instability, and rising social inequalities. Cross-department collaboration is key to addressing these underlying issues. 

Policy Actions Needed to Embed Prevention into the System. 

A recent report from The King’s Fund on how national policymakers could make bringing care closer to home a reality outlined the following recommended policy actions:  

  • Redirect NHS spending to ensure that primary, community care and mental health services receive sufficient funding to prevent illness rather than just diagnose and treat it.  
  • Develop a national prevention framework to track and measure, setting out clear definitions of what we mean by population health and ensure there is clarity in the roles and responsibilities of ICBs.  
  • Improve workforce planning to ensure services have the capacity to deliver preventive interventions, rather than working reactively to fight fires and unforeseen operational problems.  
  • Invest in digital transformation to improve data sharing and predictive analytics, allowing early identification of at-risk individuals. 
  • Strengthen partnerships and improve cross-service collaboration.  
  • Provide local NHS leaders with the autonomy, funding, and tools needed to build resilient, prevention-focused services. 
  • Integrating and investing more into key services and tools such as neighbourhood health hubs, women’s health hubs and digital tools, which have already proven to be very successful in supporting communities and could continue to do so with more financial investment. 
  • Empower populations with their own health and care – set out initiatives and services which improve the population’s understanding of their own health and empower them to act more proactively. 

A Pivotal Moment for NHS Reform 

The NHS is at a crossroads, without fundamental changes, the system will become increasingly more unsustainable. By rebalancing investment, embracing technology, and addressing social determinants of health, the NHS can move into a new era, evolving from a reactive service into a proactive force for better health and care outcomes. 

The need for a more proactive and preventative health and care model is now clearer than ever, and we can predict the upcoming NHS 10 Year Plan will outline exactly how the system can execute this shift, placing prevention at the heart of all key decisions to shape the future of the health and care service. 

Join the Conversation at HETT Show 2025 

To continue the discussion on prevention, register your interest for HETT Show 2025. Taking place on 7th-8th October at the ExCeL, the agenda will include sessions exploring integrating prevention into estates infrastructure, enhancing digital interoperability across services, and shifting the public mindset from reactive to proactive health and care.  

Don't miss the opportunity to engage with thought leaders and shape the future of prevention strategies for the NHS and wider system.   

 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Join the Community
Get the latest healthtech and digital health news, reports, webinars and offers direct to your inbox.