Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru

Rhif 2 CapitalQuarter, Stryd Tyndall, Caerdydd CF10 4BZ

Public Health Wales

2 Capital Quarter,Tyndall Street, Cardiff CF10 4BZ

Tracey Cooper

John Griffiths, MS

Chair, Local Government and Housing Committee Welsh Senedd

Cardiff Bay, CardiffCF99 1SN Ref:TC.CS.061125.JG

6 November2025 Dear John,

Local Government and Housing Committee’s

Sixth SeneddLegacy Report

I am gratefulfor the opportunity to share with you our public healthpolicy priorities to informthe development of the Local Government and Housing Committee’s Sixth Senedd Legacy Report.

Public Health Wales is the national public health organisation for Wales. We exist to help all people in Wales live longer, healthierlives, and to make healthpart of every conversation about Wales’ future.

We are highlighting five priority areas where we believe public health policy action can build a healthier, fairerand more prosperous Wales for the future,and support a strong sustainable health and care system.

By sharing these with you, we hope to support the work your Committee is doing to highlight the issues the SeventhSenedd, and your successor Committee may wish to consider.

1 Context

People in Wales are currently experiencing unfair and avoidable gaps in health and wellbeing. For example, women in the least deprived areas of Wales live 20 years more of their life in good health than those who live in the most deprived areas. In our most deprivedcommunities, we also see three times as many avoidabledeaths and 70% more child deaths. Without change, poor health in our most deprived communities will continue to result in increased demand for our public services.

Through a prevention-first approachto policy and by workingtogether in partnership, we can overcome these challenges and build a healthier future for Wales. We know that every £1 invested in prevention returns £14 for society by creating healthier people, a stronger economy and lowered NHS costs.

Our five policy priorities

1. The best start in life builds lifelong health and wellbeing

The foundation for a life lived in good health is built in our early years.

Policies need to promote the wellbeing of babies and young children and protect

children from harm, for example from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poverty, to give them the best chance to thrive through life.

Ø Consider children’s wellbeing in all policy decisions.

Ø Deliver the Best Start in Life framework through cross-government leadership.

Ø Ensure comprehensive child health data to guide policy, target support, and track outcomes for babies and young children.

Ø Ensure every family can easily access Health Visitor support, and provide Flying Start based on need, not postcode.

Ø Embed trauma and adverse childhood experience-informed approaches from pre-pregnancy onwards.

2.     Financial wellbeing drives better health and a prosperous economy

Secure and fairly rewarded work that pays a living wage is good for our health. Healthy communities mean a healthy workforce, and a healthy, productive workforce is good for a prosperous Welsh economy.

Policies need to support people in Wales to find, stay in or return to healthy, safe and secure work.

Ø Ensure public bodies provide safe, secure jobs paying at least the Real Living Wage.

Ø Monitor progress on workplace equality, including gender, ethnicity, and disability pay gaps.

Ø Support people with health challenges to enter, stay in, or return to work.

Ø Link employment services with health support especially for those with long- term or mental health conditions so people get help when they need it.

3.     Healthy lives start in our everyday places

When the places where we live, eat, shop, and play are healthy, it is easier for all of us to live healthier and happier lives.

National planning and other policies need to create and strengthen healthier places strategically, regionally and locally to support physical, mental and social health and wellbeing and reduce the appeal and availability of health harming products.

Healthy communities – characterised by healthy homes, sustainable transport, safe

space for active travel, and green spaces – create additional benefits to the environment.

Ø Increase the availability of healthy and affordable homes, especially social housing.

Ø Raise standards in private rental housing.

Ø Reduce exposure and availability of tobacco and vapes by licensing retailers, and extend smoke-free zones.

Ø Make healthier food and drink the affordable, visible options in shops and restaurants, and restrict price promotions for less healthy food and drinks

4.     Care tailored to local need builds health and resilience

Addressing the root causes of poor health—not just the consequences—means everyone in Wales can prosper and enjoy better health and wellbeing and our health system is resilient.

Policies need to address the needs of local people through earlier intervention and

delivery of joined-up, effective care for the whole person when and where people need it.

Ø Increase the yearly share of the NHS budget spent on prevention and primary and community care instead of hospital treatment.

Ø Join up health and community care with public services and voluntary organisations to support the whole person.

Ø Invest in community health facilities, skilled staff, data and digital tools that link with health records to support early and preventative care.

5.     A healthy planet protects our people now and in the future

The health of people and the planet are interconnected. Many actions that address climate change also support longer, healthier lives.

Policies need to focus on both preventing the health harms of climate change and

tackling its root causes, especially for those most vulnerable and least able to adapt.

Ø Invest in safe walking and cycling routes, footpaths, and car-free town centres.

Ø Make publictransport accessible and affordable, including free bus travelfor young people.

Ø Protect communities from the health harms of climate change by tackling flooding, improving food security, ensuringsufficient and qualitywater for private supply, and expanding access to green spaces and tree cover

At Public Health Wales we welcome the opportunity to engage further with the Committee to inform the development of its Legacy Report, and we look forward to ongoing, constructive engagement with your successor Committee. If you would like more detailed information in relation to the specific interventions to tackle these five areas then pleasedo not hesitate to contactus. I gave also attachedthe infographics for the summary and solutions for the priority areas for information.

Yours sincerely,

Tracey Cooper

Chief Executive, Public Health Wales

Copy: SeneddHousing@senedd.Wales

Webpage: https://phw.nhs.wales/ Email: phw.advocacy@wales.nhs.uk