Understanding the UK care System

Understanding the UK care System

1. Stages of Health Care Service

   • Primary Health Care Services (HCS)
     • *First contact for the PUBLIC
     • *Generally in a COMMUNITY SETTING
     • *Treat everyday illnesses to serious injury and disease
     • •E.G Doctors GP Surgery
   • Secondary Health Care Services(HCS)
     • *More Complex
     • *Ususally provided in a health care INSTITUTION
     • *An individual usually needs treatment because of a DIAGNOSIS
     • E.G Hospitals
   • Tertiary Health Care Services (HCS)
     • *Provided in a community and institution setting
     • *Usually for people who are suffering CHRONIC or TERMINAL health care needs
     • E.G Hospice, Nursing Home
   • STATUTORY - Care services athat HAVE TO BE provided by the law. They are usually provided by public or GOV. *Controlled Care Organisations E.G NHS*
   • SOCIAL CARE - Any form of non-medical care that aims to provide support/assistance to vulnerable groups of people

2. HEALTH CARE IS USUALLY PROVIDED IN STATUTORY HEALTH CARE ORGANISATIONS

3. Types of Health Care Organisations

   • STATUTORY
     • *A service that a person has a LEGAL RIGHT to recieve
     • *Funded by the GOV
     • *Usually free to those who are ELIGABLE for services
     • *Usually provided by a public care organisation
     • E.G Emergency care, Social work services
   • PRIVATE
     • *A service available to anybody who can pay for it
     • *Funded by direct client payment or by the client taking out health care insurance
     • *Usually provided by a private practitioner or care business
     • E.G. BUPA
   • VOLUNTARY
     • *A service that is available to people who meet ELIGIBILITY requirements
     • *Usually free or low cost to service users
     • *Typically funded by voluntary donations or GOV grants
     • *Usually provided by a non-profit, voluntary organisations
     • E.G. MIND, Age Concern
   • INFORMAL
     • *Care interventions and support provided by a partner, relative or friend of a person in need of care
     • *Typically practical, personal or non-technical forms of help or support
     • *E.G. Providing Medicine, Going shopping for someone
   • ELIBILITY CRITERIA - The requirements or standards that must be met before a person is provided with a care service

4. Independent Sector

   • The Independent Sector is made up of both the PRIVATE and VOLUNTARY sectors
     • They typically offer people non-statutory services
       • BUPA
       • Opticians
       • Chiropodist
       • Accupuncture
       • Physiotherapist

5. The Care System, Care Sectors and the 'Mixed Enonomy Of Care'

   • A CARE SECTOR IS A GROUP OF CARE ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON E.G. FUNDING
     • INTERAL MARKET - A market in care services that was introduced in the early 1990's to promote competition between statutory & other care providers
     • PURCHASER ORGANISATION - An organisation that commissions or buys care services on behalf of an individual or group of people
     • PROVIDER ORGANISATION - A care organisation that delivers services directly to service users
     • COMMISSIONING - The aquisition or purchasing of care services on behalf of a local population of people
   • The internal market basically allowed for he care of the popualtoion to be passed on to other sectors rather than all the responsibility being on the NHS
     • The government thought this was a good idea because
       • *It created competition between providers
       • *It created choice for purchasers
       • *Cuts cost as providers tried to win contracts
       • *Reduces inefficiency & saves money