NHS prevention plan needs investment, says RPS England

Commenting on the publication of Prevention is better than cure by the Department of Health and Social Care, which sets out the Government’s plan to put prevention at the centre of healthcare, RPS England Board Chair Sandra Gidley said:

“We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on prevention and helping people stay healthy, but after continued pressure on local authority budgets and cuts to public health services this vision will need to be matched by appropriate investment.

“The Government’s publication today rightly recognises the key role of Healthy Living Pharmacies in offering accessible lifestyle advice or stop smoking services, but as we ask pharmacists to do more the resources, support and training also need to follow suit.

“Prevention also means improving medicines safety, especially when patients are transferred between care settings, as well as reducing unplanned hospital admissions due to medication issues.”