Resources

The Cost of Smoking in Wales

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness, premature death and health inequalities in Wales. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the costs of smoking across health and social care, productivity and environmental domains, offering robust evidence to support tobacco control policies, target action where the burden is greatest, and accelerate progress towards a smoke-free Wales.
Key highlights of the report:
1) Smoking causes a deep financial burden in Wales with total cost of £1.56 billion annually, including from health and social care, productivity, and environmental impacts.
2) Deprivation and area-related inequalities are a critical driver of the burden of smoking, which in turn increases health inequalities.
3) The cost of smoking in Wales is driven substantially by productivity losses and social care, and it vastly exceeds the revenue generated by tobacco taxation.

Time to Talk Public Health: February 2026 Survey Findings

This report presents findings from a cross-sectional panel survey completed in February 2026 by 1,656 people aged 16 years and over who live in Wales. The survey was completed using Time to Talk Public Health (TTPH), a broadly representative population panel run by Public Health Wales to regularly engage with the public on a variety of public health topics.

Topics in this survey were:
– Cold homes
– Violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence
– Second-hand smoking
– Child poverty.
If you are interested in the demographic breakdown data associated with this report, please contact [email protected].

International Health Newsletter Issue 10: June 2026

The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.

The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.

View the latest issue here.

Time to Talk Public Health: Food environments and portion size behaviours in Wales

Understanding food environments and portion size behaviours in Wales

This report presents findings from a cross-sectional survey of 1,460 people aged 16 years and over who live in Wales, conducted through the Time to Talk Public Health (TTPH) population panel. The sample was broadly representative of people living in Wales. The survey explored types of main meals eaten, lunchtime behaviours when away from the home, meal finishing behaviour, and portion size behaviours and attitudes. Analysis by socio-demographic characteristics identified population groups more likely at risk of engaging in behaviours associated with living with overweight and obesity. These groups were young adults, males, people living in more deprived areas, and those who perceive themselves as heavier. More action is needed to address what drives these behaviours.

How home temperatures affect health and well-being in low-income households: Evidence from temperature monitoring and lived experience

This briefing presents the experiences of 15 people living in low-income households. It draws on objective indoor temperature monitoring and interviews exploring awareness and understanding of healthy indoor temperature guidelines and the impacts of home temperature on health and well-being.

International Health Insights: Dementia Prevention

This International Health Insights report explores global evidence on dementia prevention and the importance of supporting brain health across the life course.

The report reviews international best practice and highlights successful approaches from countries including Finland, Japan, South Korea, Uruguay, and the United Kingdom.

Key messages:

Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. Addressing modifiable risk factors across the life course could prevent up to 45% of cases. Effective prevention requires integrated action at three levels:

1. Single component behavioural change interventions remain essential foundations, targeting individual risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, social isolation, alcohol misuse, and untreated hearing or vision loss. component behavioural change interventions

2. Multi component interventions that target multiple, clustered risk factors represent the most promising strategy.

3. Structural population-level measures such as fiscal policies, legislation, marketing restrictions, environmental adaptations are critical to complement lifestyle-based approaches.

Loneliness, social isolation and social connection in Wales: A public health perspective

Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly being recognised as public health challenges. This report aims to present loneliness, social isolation and social connection in Wales from a public health perspective. Intended for professionals, policymakers and other individuals working directly or indirectly in the field of social connection, it includes data and evidence on: the prevalence of loneliness, social isolation and social connection in Wales and the population groups most affected; factors that increase the risk of loneliness and social isolation; impacts on health and well-being; evidence on solutions; examples of good practice in Wales; and key areas for future action.

Time to Talk Public Health October 2025 Survey Findings

Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the October 2025 survey covering: Source of Health Information, Health Policy, Health and Well-Being After Pregnancy, Ageism, and Public Health Wales.

International Health Newsletter Issue 9: February 2026

The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.

The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.

View the latest issue here.

Urgent care components and their effectiveness: A rapid review of evidence and international insights

This report explores how different components of urgent care services can help reduce pressure on emergency departments and support patient independence. Drawing on the latest research through a systematic rapid review and international insights, it highlights best practices from across the UK and globally to inform urgent care service design in Wales. The review covers a range of urgent care service components, including:
• Task shifting strategies to optimise workforce capacity and efficiency
• Improved access to diagnostic services, such as radiology
• Smart tools like digital triage and decision-support systems for staff
• Expansion of urgent care/treatment centres for timely, appropriate care
• Virtual urgent care, including phone and video consultations for urgent advice
The findings suggest that well-designed urgent care services can deliver safer, faster, and more effective care. While further research is needed, the evidence highlights a promising opportunity to ease pressure on hospitals and ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

About the review:
This work is a collaboration between the Evidence Service (Research, Data and Digital Directorate) and the International Health Insights team (Policy and International Health Directorate, WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Wellbeing) within Public Health Wales.

International Health Newsletter Issue 8: October 2025

The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.

The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.

View the latest issue here.

Strengthening Health with Equitable International Partnerships: Key Learning and Best Practices

Wales has an enabling legislative and policy context for international health partnerships, illustrated by the Well-being of Future Generations Act goal of creating a ‘globally responsible Wales’.

This discussion paper explored how Welsh and international communities’ benefit from collaborative partnerships through a scoping review. The objectives were to identify current knowledge, evaluate advantages, and determine best practice.

Time to Talk Public Health – June 2025 Survey Findings

Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the June 2025 Survey covering: Type 2 diabetes, use of gloves in healthcare settings, incontinence, dental health, climate change and public health policy.

Comparative relationships between physical and verbal abuse of children, life course mental well-being and trends in exposure: a multi-study secondary analysis of cross-sectional surveys in England and Wales

This study examined relationships between physical and verbal abuse in childhood and adult mental well-being. The study, published in the journal BMJ Open, used data from surveys conducted in Wales and England between 2012 and 2024. It found that childhood verbal abuse was associated with similar increases in risk of low mental well-being as childhood physical abuse. The study also measured trends in self-reported physical and verbal abuse across birth cohorts.

International Health Newsletter Issue 7: July 2025

The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.

The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.

View the latest issue here.