At a King's Fund conference on 18 October 2024, Professor Stephen Powis argued that the NHS needed to build on its preventive work with greater urgency. His remarks connected long-term health improvement with the practical organisation of services.
Working earlier in the pathway
Powis, then speaking as NHS National Medical Director, called for a more proactive community approach and better responses to people living with several health conditions. He also pointed to technology, including the NHS App, as one way to help individuals participate in managing their health.
Connecting services and public policy
The argument extended beyond clinical appointments. A functioning social care system was presented as important to prevention, alongside population measures such as the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. National work on respiratory illness, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity illustrated the range of programmes involved.
Turning commitment into delivery
The message was to accelerate approaches already showing value while continuing to develop new ones. This historical discussion captures a recurring challenge in NHS planning: making prevention part of routine decisions and service design, even while immediate treatment demands remain high.
