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The Prudent Health and Care Principles

The principles of prudent health and care underpin the work of the Bevan Commission.

The four prudent principles

Co-production

Achieve health and wellbeing with the public, patients and professionals as equal partners through co-production.

Necessity

Do only what is needed – no more, no less, and do no harm.

Need

Care for those with the greatest need first, making the most effective use of all skills and resources.

Evidence

Reduce inappropriate variation using evidence-based practices consistently and transparently.

A ten-minute taster: The prudent principles

Watch International Bevan Commissioner Professor Don Berwick introduce the Prudent Principles.

The origins of the concept

In December 2013, the Commission introduced the concept of Prudent Healthcare with the publication of Simply Prudent Healthcare, which included a set of provisional principles that underpins the concept’s aims and objectives. This landmark publication was followed by Prudent health: one year on, a qualitative assessment of the concept’s effectiveness in policy and practice to date.

Throughout 2014, the Commission reached out and encouraged a wide-ranging conversation on what Prudent Health and Care should be. Following a series of workshops, debates and the launch of a dedicated website, the Commission launched the finalised Prudent Principles in January 2015. These were endorsed by the Minister for Health and Social Services and now underpin Welsh healthcare policy.

At the heart of policy

Prudent healthcare is at the heart of A Healthier Wales, Welsh Government’s long-term plan for health and care, and informs much of today’s health and care policy and discussion in Wales. The Bevan Commission’s Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy series (below) explores the concept in detail and how it can inspire A New Way of ThinkingA New Way of Planning and A New Way of Doing.

Translating it into action

Prudent health and care principles are also being applied in action by the Bevan Innovators (Bevan Exemplars,  Bevan Advocates & Bevan Fellows). Bevan Exemplars are health and care professionals who trial and test out their innovative ideas to deliver prudent healthcare on the front line of the NHS. Bevan Advocates are members of the public who share their experiences, develop person-centred solutions and inspire others to make different health and care choices to support prudent healthcare. Bevan Fellows are health and care professionals developing prudent practice at a national level leading innovations, developing research and training others.

2017Bevan Commission PublicationsExploiting the Welsh Health Legacy SeriesA New Way of Thinking: Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy Paper 1
August 2, 2023

A New Way of Thinking: Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy Paper 1

Author: Bevan Commission Published: Jun 11, 2017 This paper is the first in the series called…
2018Bevan Commission PublicationsExploiting the Welsh Health Legacy SeriesA New Way of Doing: Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy Paper 3
August 2, 2023

A New Way of Doing: Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy Paper 3

Author: Bevan Commission Published: Jul 17, 2018 This is the third paper in the Exploiting the…
2018Bevan Commission PublicationsExploiting the Welsh Health Legacy SeriesA New Way of Planning: Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy Paper 2
August 2, 2023

A New Way of Planning: Exploiting the Welsh Health Legacy Paper 2

Author: Bevan Commission Published: Feb 01, 2018 This paper is the second in the series called…