Newyddion WAHWN
Baring Foundation director urges England to learn from Wales' arts and health model
David Cutler, Director of the Baring Foundation, has called on the UK Government to give creative health a much higher priority in NHS strategy, warning that England risks falling behind Wales in this area.
Writing for the Baring Foundation, Cutler highlights that in England’s new NHS Ten Year Plan, Fit for the Future, there is a lack of focus on creative approaches to health and wellbeing. Despite spanning 170 pages, the plan makes no mention of creative health or social prescribing, even though the NHS employs around 4,000 link workers who regularly refer patients to creative activities like music, dance or arts workshops.
Cutler points to Wales as a positive example of how the arts and health sectors can collaborate strategically. Here, a formal partnership between the NHS and the Arts Council of Wales has embedded arts experts in Health Boards and secured ministerial engagement – steps Cutler believes England should urgently consider.
He calls for a new national creative health strategy, shared ministerial responsibility across the culture and health departments, and greater leadership from central government.
You can read the full article on the Baring Foundation website here.