The Bevan Commission is Wales’ leading health and care think tank, hosted and supported by Swansea University.
Our Vision
A prudent and sustainable national health and social care service that meets the needs of all citizens, both now and in the future, and remains true to the founding principles of Aneurin Bevan.
Our Mission
To challenge thinking and practice in health and care, creating a growing movement for change with the people in the system and those who use the system. We work to grow and embed this movement within and between organisations in three ways:
Challenge
We harness independent and new insights to challenge policy and practice, acting as ‘critical friends’ to help leaders make informed decisions on health and care in Wales, across the UK and beyond.
Change
We support individuals and teams to design, try out, test and deliver new methodologies and approaches to transform health and care.
Champion
We champion the adopt and spread of innovative ways of working through research, training and wider exploratory and collaborative work, with a wide range of local, national and international stakeholders.
Our Story
The Bevan Commission was originally established in 2008 by Professor Sir Mansel Aylward to provide independent advice and consensus on health and care-related matters to the Welsh Government. Honouring the legacy of Aneurin Bevan, we work to ensure that people in Wales have access to high quality, affordable and sustainable health and care.
We are made up of 24 internationally renowned Bevan Commissioners; health and care experts drawn from a variety of disciplines including industry, NHS, local government, armed forces, academia and the third sector.
For the past 16 years we have worked with frontline staff, senior leadership, members of the public, academia and industry to produce cutting-edge research and groundbreaking new practices that have helped raised the quality and international reputation of Wales’ health and care system.
Our Priorities
In February 2024 we published The Foundations for the Future Model of Health and Care in Wales, a timely blueprint for transforming health and care services in Wales, setting out an agenda to achieve a sustainable, high quality, equitable health and care system for current and future generations.
The four foundations identified form the overarching strategic priorities for the Bevan Commission over the next five years:
Resilient and Resourceful People and Communities
Health and care services will only become sustainable in the face of increasing life expectancy and growing demand by recognising the importance of the environments in which we live, work and play and the wider social support opportunities in promoting good health. Public health and illness prevention plays a pivotal role in enhancing the resilience of people and communities by actively involving people in their own well-being, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take action.
Prudent, Integrated, and Equally Well Care
Integration of services and systems are essential for ensuring high quality and prudent services which best meet people’s needs. A whole population approach is needed, including new health and social care roles, cross sector working, quality-centric approaches, and place-based integration of health and social care teams.
Sustainable Workforce, Services and Systems
Combined sustainable solutions and modes of operation benefiting everyone including financial, environmental, and social solutions. This will need to go beyond the ‘volume approach’ to waste, reflecting on the inappropriate and inefficient use of resources and redesigning a prudent, lean health and care system fit for the future.
Dynamic, Innovative and Transformational Culture
Changing needs require changing approaches able to flex and respond quickly. System transformation should begin by addressing local needs, encouraging, and supporting innovation to be driven collaboratively at all levels, between organisations, professionals and local communities.
