The power of preventative healthcare

Prioritising prevention over treatment means insurers and risk managers can reduce costs, stabilise premiums, and improve health outcomes.

In 2024, the newly elected Government pledged to build a health service fit for the future. The first step was Lord Darzi’s Review ⁽¹⁾ , commissioned to assess the scale of the challenge. The findings were stark: the health service was in critical condition, characterised by overcrowding, lengthy waiting lists, workforce strain, and suboptimal clinical outcomes.

Following publication of his report the new Government launched Change NHS, to gather views from the public and stakeholders to help shape the future of the NHS. It remains to be seen what specific plans will be formulated however, Lord Darzi’s conclusions fed into the 10 Year Health Plan ⁽²⁾ which charts a bold new path. This includes; moving care closer to home and into local communities, embracing digital innovation, and prioritising a strategy of prevention over a traditionally more reactive approach to treatment.

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This article was originally published in February 2026 stronger, the ALARM journal. ALARM is a not-for-profit professional membership association supporting risk management and insurance practitioners with education, training, guidance, best practice, networking and industry recognition. For more information, visit alarmrisk.com and follow @ALARMrisk on LinkedIn.