NHS leaders are calling on the next Welsh Government to prioritise prevention, workforce development, performance and financial frameworks, social care, and infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the NHS and social care systems.
The Welsh NHS Confederation has outlined these priorities in anticipation of the 2026 Senedd election, urging political parties to include them in their manifestos.
The Welsh NHS Confederation, representing all NHS organisations in Wales, has identified five critical factors based on extensive member engagement, including a survey of 95 NHS leaders. These priorities are essential to securing the future of health and social care and improving the nation's health and wellbeing:
- Cross-Government National Strategy: Implement a strategy to enhance health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities.
- Long-Term Workforce Plan: Invest in the NHS and social care workforce and their education.
- Joint Performance and Financial Framework: Publish a framework for seamless care and support.
- Independent Rapid Review: Develop a long-term agreement on the sustainability of the social care system.
- Capital and Infrastructure Strategy: Launch a strategy for long-term capital and infrastructure development.
Darren Hughes, Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, commented:
“The needs of the population are ever evolving. Over the next decade, it’s imperative there is a fundamental shift in the health and social care system. At its heart, this is about moving from a reactive model (treating people when they are unwell) to a proactive one (focusing on prevention and early intervention).
“There’s an alarming wave of demographic and population health challenges heading our way, but there’s an opportunity to make significant improvements to the health and wellbeing of our nation in just five to ten years, benefiting millions of people, our economy and our health and social care system. This requires a whole-system, partnership approach to health and wellbeing across the wider determinants of health, as well as bringing the public with us to realise this transformation. But the government must initiate the drive for better health and empower all parts of society to work together to make this happen.
“We need to consider what we can do nationally, regionally, locally and personally to meet these challenges head on. This is about us all working differently to improve the nations’ health and wellbeing and enabling our members, NHS leaders, to deliver on the aspiration to move resources into prevention, primary and community-based care.
“The only way we’re going to achieve a sustainable health and social care system is by working in partnership to collectively transform services and reduce ever growing demand.”
Health and social care services are currently facing high demand and limited resources, with demographic changes posing significant challenges. The proportion of the population aged 80 and over is expected to double between 2000 and 2038, and the number of people with four or more long-term conditions is predicted to nearly double by 2035.
NHS leaders are urging the next Welsh Government to provide the necessary support and tools for fundamental change, ensuring the sustainability of health and social care services for decades to come. This includes investing in community infrastructure and prioritising prevention across all sectors.
The WNHSC and NHS leaders will engage with politicians in the coming weeks and months, with a detailed publication to follow, outlining the steps needed to achieve a sustainable health and social care system for Wales.
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