Shift to preventive medicine

A shift in focus from diagnosis and treatment to preventive measures continues to evolve. Patients are assessed against a full continuum of risk in attracting illness and disease. There is increased emphasis on health and well-being, disease prevention and moving the balance of responsibility to self-management and care. Preventive medicine stimulates the development of large, cross-functional teams in order to deliver tangible outcomes. Pharmacists are increasingly involved at the primary point of care and in delivering patient screening, as well as offering lifestyle support and advice to a broad spectrum of patients, including those who do not access NHS services.

Proposed workforce impact

• Increased demand for community and hospital pharmacists to manage and deliver public health initiatives such as screening at the primary point of care.
• Increased collaborative working, engaging professions across the healthcare, social care and public health sectors, e.g. occupational health.

Sources or references

• www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_085841.pdf

Additional research questions

• What infrastructural changes will be required to support this shift?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.