BANT backs greater ministerial control and accountability within the National Health Service

British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT)

2 min read20 March Partner content

BANT has repeatedly called for accountability and to prioritise prevention within the NHS.

The UK has seen six Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since 2021, the longest term lasting one year and shortest one month (1).

Since 1992, 14 government-led strategies and 680 policies related to obesity have failed (2,3). Meanwhile the NHS is imploding under unsustainable strain, and no-one is being held accountable.

“Non-communicable diseases are spiralling out of control” according to BANT CEO and spokesperson Satu Jackson, causing an estimated 89% of UK deaths (4), and draining as much as 75% of health budgets. The Department of Health released data back in 2011 noting that “total long-term care expenditure was forecast to rise by 29% to £26.4 billion” by 2022 (5). This underlines the worsening trend in diet-induced illness and the need for greater accountability when it comes to delivering government policies.

As for prevention and future-proofing the NHS, currently only 5% of NHS spend goes on prevention (6). We need funding now to invest in long-term initiatives if we want to change this but most of all we need ministers mandated to deliver on their promises.

BANT backs Keir Starmer’s decision to abolish NHS England and urges the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting to deliver on his pledge for prevention focused healthcare.

BANT PSA-accredited practitioners work collaboratively and can be referred to by NHS General Practitioners and Primary Care Networks to help deliver on the prevention strategy.

For more information visit BANT.org.uk

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