Prevention is the real cure

John Challinor, Publisher

As the nation tunes into the world’s largest multi-sport events, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris (see our facility review on pages 58-70), now is the perfect time for our new government to set out their stall to improve the health of the nation.

As Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour front bench have pledged to make positive changes to so many parts of British life, we have every right to expect that this extends to plans around health and wellness. Crucially, this should not be done by simply increasing the NHS budget. Instead, the government should take a serious and considered look at how it can best utilise a huge, but underused resource – the physical activity sector.

Rather than have our beloved NHS as a “sickness service” – only treating patients who are ill – it is about time the government views prevention as the real cure. There is no point waiting until people’s health conditions decline so much that they are left with no other choice than to get to the hospital. Keeping people out of hospitals in the first place is not only better for their health, it is also considerably cheaper for the Government. The ground for a new way of thinking has already been prepared. A survey by ukactive shows that 85% of adults in the UK want the next Government to invest in long-term, lifestyle-focused solutions for the prevention of obesity and health conditions, rather than spending more on weight-loss drugs.

We need the government to finally listen to this message. After all, ahead of the General Election, Sir Keir and Labour - quite rightly - made growth their primary focus.

Within the sport and physical activity sector, we already understand that there can be no growth without improving the health of the nation. Let the Games begin.

John Challinor, Publisher