Senedd mandates health duty for public bodies

The Welsh Senedd has voted to legally bind public bodies to consider the long-term health implications of their decisions.

From 2027, public bodies, including local authorities, NHS organisations, national parks and cultural organisations like the National Museum and National Library, will have to carry out health impact assessments when making decisions of a strategic nature.

The regulations will introduce health impact assessments (HIAs) and are designed to help narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived parts of Wales.

HIAs will ensure that the physical and mental health impacts are taken into account when public sector organisations develop new policies or projects.

This will include decisions in areas such as housing, transport, education, employment, culture and the environment, which are known to impact long-term health outcomes.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles, said: "This is not about adding complexity, it is about embedding the health of our population into the DNA of our public services.

"This is another important action we are taking to help end persistent and stubborn health inequalities, which continue to blight too many communities in Wales

"They will join other schemes which are targeted at closing that gap, including the Marmot Nation; universal free school breakfasts in primary schools; our childhood vaccination programme; and funded childcare for two to four-year-olds."