Prevention in primary care

At the heart of a sustainable health and care system for Wales is a focus on prevention and early intervention — shifting the system’s focus from reactively treating illness to proactively supporting health and wellbeing.

This strategic area leads change across all levels of prevention that are within the influence of the health and care system, tackling disease prevention for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, developing life-course approaches for supporting health and wellbeing after pregnancy as well as musculoskeletal health, and promoting cross-cutting approaches including social prescribing and the Prevention-Based Health and Care framework. Working with health boards, communities and key partners, the programmes of work deliver practical tools and resources, national infrastructure developments and coordinated action to improve health outcomes and reduce demand on the health and care system.

• All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme (AWDPP)

  Read about the All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme (AWDPP).

• Cardiovascular disease prevention

  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels and is a significant health issue within Wales.

• Primary care obesity prevention

  Obesity is a significant and growing public health issue in Wales, and the pandemic has further highlighted the increased risks of adverse outcomes for people living with obesity.

• Social prescribing

  Social prescribing is an umbrella term that describes a person-centred approach to connecting people to local community assets.

• Supporting healthy behaviours

  A series of resources designed to equip the primary and community care workforce to have conversations with individuals about adopting healthy behaviours.