Delivering the Prevention Revolution in an Election Year

As the political parties gear up for the next election, public service reform is back on the agenda. This includes a renewed focus on prevention – for example Labour has recently called for problems to be tackled “with a long-term, preventative approach”.

There is growing momentum around this agenda, with prevention increasingly on the lips of politicians, the media and policy makers. In January, Demos called for a more preventative healthcare model to help tackle breast cancer. This built on our call in September last year for a new government spending framework, introducing a new category of government spending focused on prevention (alongside revenue and capital).

But how can we take this push for prevention to the next level, especially given we are likely in an election year? How can we overcome any political barriers? How can we finally deliver the prevention revolution? Join Demos to discuss this question, with three guest speakers:

• Baroness Delyth Morgan – Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Now
• Lord Bethell – former Minister for Innovation, Department for Health and Social Care
• Anita Charlesworth – Director of Research and REAL Centre, The Health Foundation

Ben Glover, Head of Social Policy – Demos, will chair the discussion.

You can watch back here

About the Public Services 2030 Network

Public services are in crisis. Backlogs are everywhere, from NHS waiting lists to undecided asylum applications. Frontline staff, managers and civil servants alike are doing their best to respond, and often performing heroically.

But the fundamentals of the situation are beyond individual heroism, short term fixes or limited cash injections to resolve. The United Kingdom needs a rethink on public services: what do we want, what are we willing to pay for, and who will do the work and how will there be change?

There is no shortage of bold and innovative ideas. From pioneering councils to charities experimenting to new approaches to service design and thinkers across the political spectrum, we have been inspired by the wealth of work happening right across the country.

Now is the time to connect these voices to create a new era of public service reform. The Public Services 2030 Network is a movement of organisations committed to rebuilding and reforming our public services so they are fit for the next decade.The Network is supported in 2024 by:

• CIPFA
• The Institute of Employability Professionals
• The WEA
• Reed in Partnership