The Chief Medical Officer’s annual report has called for a shift to a prevention first approach to health and highlights that successful prevention initiatives have demonstrated the potential for improvements in population health.

Public Health Wales recognises that Wales faces significant health challenges. This includes a 20-year gap in healthy life expectancy for women between the least and most deprived areas. And there are three times more avoidable deaths in our most deprived communities.

These gaps are unfair and avoidable.

Preventable differences in health are a significant challenge for some people and families, the economy, and the NHS in Wales and, without change, health inequalities will continue to cost £322 million a year in hospital costs alone.

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