Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services, will visit Swansea University on Tuesday, April 15, to speak on the topic of “Prudent Healthcare: what can the NHS learn from social care?”.
The Minister has been invited to give the first public lecture in a new seminar series, which has been jointly organised by Swansea University’s Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences (RIASS) and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD).
The free seminar, which is open to all, will take place from 1:30pm until 3pm in the University’s Wallace Lecture Theatre, Wallace Building. Those wishing to attend will need to register in advance here.
Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “I am keen the NHS in Wales shapes our future on the basis of the principles associated with prudent medicine and prudent healthcare.
“The NHS in Wales can learn much from the field of social care where the challenge is to develop sustainable models of service in terms of financial and workforce resources to help us manage demand while being equitable and fair to all.
“Our drive should be to promote independence, prevention and early intervention and not dependency.”
Professor Judith Phillips, Director of RIASS, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Minister for Health and Social Services to Swansea University to deliver the first RIASS and WISERD public lecture.
“The emphasis of the lecture on the lessons to be learnt by health from social care is refreshing, long overdue, and essential for a 21st Century healthcare system.”
Professor David Blackaby, WISERD Co-Director, Swansea University, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Minister, Mark Drakeford, to give the inaugural lecture in this new seminar series.
“The Health Service affects everyone in Wales and has significant effects on the quality of our lives and well-being. When it was launched by the then Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevin, in 1948, it was based on the principal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. As we recovery from the deepest recession since the 1930s this will be a continuing challenge.
“One of the principal aims of WISERD is to strengthen the impact of economics and social research on the development of public policy and many WISERD researchers are working in the area of health policy.”
The Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences (RIASS) is a flagship, cross-University collaboration bringing together the very best research expertise within the social, human, health and environmental sciences.
Drawing on the expertise of research centres across the institution, RIASS is ensuring that the applied social sciences are embedded throughout the University.
With a strong external focus, RIASS is forging research collaborations with similar institutes around the world, whilst also serving the local community through engagement with businesses, the public and the voluntary sector.
RIASS is also a significant contributor to the development and training of the next generation of social scientists as host of the Swansea arm of the ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Centre.
For more information on RIASS visit http://www.swansea.ac.uk/riass/