Ifg Events Podcast

The new government has put prevention at the heart of public service reform plans. So what difference could this approach make? By intervening sooner, problems may not escalate, become embedded, or arise in the first place – meaning preventative services could be a major contributor to public sector productivity. With spending likely to be tight over the coming years, the theory behind an "invest to save" scheme is clear – but in practice it has been hard to implement, and cashable savings have often proved elusive. This event brought together a panel of experts to discuss: - Is it realistic to expect preventative programmes to deliver cashable savings? - How quickly could a shift towards a more preventative approach improve public service productivity? - What are the respective roles of the centre of government, departments, and frontline services in delivering this shift and realising productivity improvements? - How can additional investments be made in prevention when acute demand is high and spendin