NHS Highland says prevention is better than cure for patients and the health and social care systems
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Preventative action to tackle health inequalities can improve health and ease the need for more intensive and costly treatment – that is according to a major annual report by NHS Highland’s director of public health.
In his third report in the role of director of public health, Dr Tim Allison underlines that prevention is better than cure as it could significantly benefit patients in the first instance but also the wider healthcare system.
Preventative work is well-known to successfully improve on poor health outcomes for patients so availing yourself of medical advice stops a condition deteriorating to the point that it needs significant treatment.
At the same time, preventing a condition from getting worse eases leading to costly treatment, the incredible burden on the NHS which supports health boards across the country in developing sustainable health and social care services.
This approach is already beginning to show fruit according to Dr Allison, who said: “Prevention is about taking actions that are needed to stop people becoming ill or to reduce the severity of illnesses.
“This not only reduces health inequalities but also helps us to sustain and strengthen the services we provide across health and social care. This report aims to make the case for how important prevention can be and highlight how cost-effective prevention can transform our health and social care services.”
The report includes information showing the decline in cancer and coronary heart disease rates across Highlands, Argyll and Bute. Prevention initiatives have played a major part in tackling these leading causes of death. Activity has included cancer screening and work to reduce rates of smoking.
Dr Allison continued: “Preventative action to control tobacco use and reduce smoking, as well as reduced high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure have contributed to a decline in the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease.
“Priority should continue to be given to preventing cardiovascular disease and smoking-related conditions and there must be continued efforts to improve early diagnosis for effective treatment.
“The report also demonstrates how wider issues, such as environment, housing, education and employment influence the health of the population and how we can deliver improvement by prioritising preventative work.
“There are many examples which have already helped achieve major improvements in population health, such as improved social conditions, vaccination against communicable disease and national screening programmes.
“We also have a number of preventative interventions that provide a return on investment and deliver savings to the NHS in the short and longer term. Therefore it is important that we consider prevention at the heart of all future service planning.
“It is vital that we learn from these improvements and continue to develop preventative work in Highland which delivers sustained positive health outcomes.”
