This event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives to discuss a critical question: how to transition the NHS from a reactive, treatment-based model to one that prioritises preventative healthcare. The event highlighted the urgency of this shift, exploring past failures and outlining potential solutions.

A central theme was the need to balance the immediate political pressures of addressing pressing issues, such as long waiting lists, with the long-term, generational benefits of preventative care. While acknowledging this inherent tension, speakers underscored the economic and social imperatives of shifting to a preventative model, emphasising the unsustainable cost of preventable illnesses.

A key takeaway was the need to move beyond exhortations and adopt a multifaceted approach to effect real change. Speakers advocated for a significant realignment of resources and focus towards primary and community care, involving restructuring financial flows and elevating the status of general practitioners and community health workers. This shift, some argued, requires new performance metrics that incentivise preventative measures rather than solely rewarding activity.

The discussion also highlighted the need to embed a ‘health in all policies’ approach across government departments. This mission-driven model requires integrating health considerations into seemingly disparate policy areas, such as housing, urban planning, and education. The potential of collaborating with retailers to promote healthier diets was explored, with proposals for mandatory targets on the healthiness of food products. Speakers suggested that these targets could be met through reformulation, strategic product placement, and pricing adjustments, offering a path for retailers to contribute to public health without significantly impacting their bottom line.

Early intervention, especially during childhood, emerged as a crucial area for investment and action. Speakers championed programmes like Sure Start, emphasising the long-term benefits of early intervention and the detrimental effects of austerity on such programmes. The importance of promoting healthy eating habits, exercise, and mental health literacy from a young age was underscored.

Throughout the event, speakers stressed the need for clear public messaging, political courage, and a long-term perspective. Framing preventative measures in a way that resonates with the public, such as emphasising the protection of children's health, was highlighted as essential. A 10-year plan for health, currently in development, was viewed as a positive step, offering a longer runway to enact meaningful change and demonstrate the benefits of preventative healthcare.

The discussion concluded on a cautiously optimistic note. While acknowledging the significant challenges inherent in shifting the healthcare system towards prevention, speakers expressed hope that the convergence of political will, public awareness, and scientific advancements could create a real opportunity for lasting change. The event underscored a collective belief that a healthier society is not just a lofty aspiration but an achievable goal.