ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the experience of the Heart Beat Wales project and the work of the Welsh Health Promotion Authority. It shows that considerable effort has been devoted to addressing the questions about how cost-effective health promotion is and whether it can release resources. In 1987 at the same time as the Health Education Authority was created in England the Health Promotion Authority for Wales was set up. The strategic approach to health service planning in Wales, Strategic Intent and Direction, supports the principle of balancing investment, in contrast to the past pattern, when traditionally most of the money went into treatment and investigation. Health Promotion Wales has continued to develop, and has recently been subject to an efficiency scrutiny. A focus on measurable health outcomes is now part of the National Health Service strategy in Wales. There have been significant achievements in working through the other sectors–education, industry and so on.