Well-funded prevention is indeed better than cure

In England, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has revealed his vision for how he plans to transform the Government's approach to prevention, laying down the foundations for a green paper in 2019.

Acheson (1988) described public health as the art and science of disease prevention, extending life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society. Activities to strengthen public health capacities and service aim to provide conditions under which people can maintain health, improve their health and wellbeing, or prevent the deterioration of their health. None of this can be achieved without input from nurses. Public health has as its focus the entire range of health and wellbeing and is not only concerned with the eradication of particular diseases. A great deal of public health activity is targeted at particular populations but public health services will also include the provision of personal services to individual people, such as vaccinations, behavioural counselling, or health advice.