Healthier communities

We are moving from a health service that responds to illness to one that prevents it. Our aim is to support healthier lives, well lived, where we live. It is a prevention-first approach.

Goal 3: 20four7
Our 20four7 approach will mean we focus on specific areas of need, reduce health inequalities, and act earlier to help people stay well. 

This means  

• We will focus on the 20% of communities with greatest need.  
• We will target the four biggest risks in our health - smoking, poor nutrition, alcohol, and physical inactivity. 
• We will prioritise the 7 areas that have the greatest impact on healthier lives (cancer; cardiovascular disease; child and maternal health; diabetes; frailty, falls and physical decline; mental health and substance misuse; and respiratory disease).

Goal 4: Community by design
We will take a Community by Design approach, meaning more care closer to where you live by providing services in the community first and only in the hospital when it can’t be provided closer to home.

• More care will take place in communities and people’s homes. 
• We will aim to give people help earlier, before problems become more serious. This means spotting issues sooner, offering support in communities, and preventing avoidable illness or crisis. Earlier support helps people stay well for longer, reduces the need for hospital care, and improves overall health and wellbeing. 
• We want hospitals to be able to focus on the most serious and complex care 
• There will be urgent, but non-life-threatening needs, that can be safely handled by primary care, pharmacies and community facilities. This will save you from needing to travel and reduce long waits, and will also reduce pressure on our hospitals. 
• Where services change location, we will make sure they remain safe, sustainable and based on clinical standards.