Early action involves providing public services to address causes rather than symptoms. It is where government departments, local authorities or other organisations use resources to prevent cases reaching a more serious or costly state. It can apply to individuals, groups and whole areas of policy, and is often contrasted with ‘reactive’ interventions, like acute healthcare. There is no standard definition, and departments use their own interpretation. The line between early action and reactive interventions is not always clear-cut and can be contested. However, early action can be grouped into three broad types:
- Prevention (upstream): preventing, or minimising the risk, of problems arising – usually through universal policies like health promotion.
- •Early intervention (midstream): targeting individuals or groups at high risk or showing early signs of a particular problem to try to stop it occurring.
- Early remedial treatment (downstream): intervening once there is a problem, to stop it getting worse and redress the situation.
In principle, early action can provide positive social and economic outcomes and reduce overall public spending by preventing problems becoming embedded. A shift from reactive to preventative spending could improve value for money from public spending, although the political and practical challenges are considerable.
Published : 29th January 2013
Publisher : National Audit Office [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : National Audit Office
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