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HEIW leads workforce transformation to strengthen preventative and place-based healthcare across Wales

As part of the Integrated Medium Term Plan 2025-26, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) has announced 8 strategic priorities to develop a highly skilled and sustainable workforce, ensuring improved care and better health outcomes for the people of Wales.

Priority two centres on workforce transformation to strengthen preventative and place-based healthcare across Wales.

This strategic priority, central to HEIW’s vision since inception, drives forward the transformation of the healthcare workforce ensuring a sustainable, skilled, and community-focused healthcare service. This forms part of a national effort to reshape healthcare delivery—bringing services closer to people’s homes and placing prevention at the heart of care.

HEIW will also embed prevention across the health workforce by:

  • Developing the healthcare workforce based in primary and community settings, such as in GP surgeries and community clinics, so the patient can see the right expert without needing to travel far.
  • Better access to medicines and advice through the Pharmacy Workforce Plan, pharmacies in the community can provide safe, timely advice and treatment when needed.
  • Improved dental services as part of the Dental Workforce Plan, increase access to dental care across Wales—making it easier to get timely treatment and check-ups.
  • Support for recovery and independence: invest in local rehabilitation and preventative care services, helping people recover from illness and stay well at home for longer.

This strategic priority also sees HEIW working closely with colleagues in Public Health Wales, to assess how they can individually and jointly embed prevention in the workforce including:

  • Supporting the health and wellbeing of NHS staff
  • Strengthening the NHS's ability to respond to future health challenges
  • Embedding preventative thinking and skills in all NHS training and education
  • Shaping a public health workforce ready to meet the needs of the future
  • Exploring how we can support NHS leaders to promote healthy communities and prevention
  • Optimising global learning to improve knowledge within the NHS Wales workforce

This work builds on solid foundations including the launch in 2023 of a network of primary and community multiprofessional academies across NHS Wales, aimed at enhancing education and training for the broader primary care workforce. In addition, as part of their core work, HEIW will continue to expand and improve GP training and increase pre-registration placement opportunities in primary and community settings, helping to widen career access and strengthen the future workforce pipeline.

Ian Mathieson, Director of Education Strategy & Transformation said, “By expanding education in primary and community settings, we can meet the real-world health challenges facing Wales today and in the years to come.”

“Patient’s will benefit from more localised care that is tailored to their individual needs, with a greater emphasis on preventing illness rather than simply treating it.”

NHS Wales staff have enhanced access to training, enabling them to develop the skills needed to better support patients and advance in their careers - helping to build a more sustainable and resilient community health service.

HEIW's 2025–28 Integrated Medium-Term Plan includes clear milestones for this work, ensuring it supports both national priorities and local needs. With a continued focus on collaboration with Health Boards and stakeholders across Wales, the organisation is laying strong foundations for a healthier, more sustainable future.

For further information please see our Integrated Medium Term Plan (IMTP) or contact heiw@wales.nhs.uk.

If you are interested in understanding more about our Priority One programme of work, please see HEIW unveils plan to boost NHS care quality and access across Wales - HEIW