Hodder Education Health & Social Care 2024 Catalogue - Flipbook - Page 15
HEALTH T LEVEL: CORE
Look inside
A2: The healthcare sector
Test yourself
1 Briefly explain three roles of the NHS.
2 Give three examples of private healthcare
services.
3 Explain what is meant by a ‘non-profit’
organisation. Give an example.
4 Other than hospitals, list three examples of
healthcare working environments.
5 State two environments where judicial care is
provided.
u community health services such as health visitors
and school nurses.
First point
of contact
Accessed
directly by
service users
General care
Primary
care
A2.2 The characteristics of
primary, secondary and tertiary
healthcare tiers
Deals with
acute medical
problems
Public
participation
encouraged
Care provision in the healthcare sector is classified as
primary care, secondary care and tertiary care.
Refers to
specialists
Primary care
Primary care (see Figure 2.2) is where an individual
has made a first contact with a medical practitioner,
usually a GP, for advice or treatment. As a result of this
first contact the patient will be questioned, probably
examined, and may be treated by the GP or referred on
to a specialist for further care.
Key term
GP: general practitioner. This is the doctor in the
local community and is usually based in a health
centre or surgery. GPs deliver primary care and will
provide initial diagnosis and treatment or will refer
the individual to a specialist.
Examples of primary care providers are:
u GP surgery
u dentist
u optician
u walk-in centre
u A&E (accident and emergency department of a
hospital)
u NHS 111 telephone service – this is a free service,
available 24/7, for people with medical concerns
where patients are uncertain about their severity
or who to consult. It can save attending A&E
unnecessarily and can provide reassuring advice
from a professional who will direct patients to call
999 if emergency treatment is required
▲ Figure 2.2 Features of primary care
People who need, use and care about healthcare
services are encouraged to get involved in providing
feedback on local area services. For example, all GP
practices must have a PPG (Patient Participation
Group) made up of patients from their practice.
These groups regularly meet with staff and talk
about how to improve services and promote
health for people who use the practice. This public
participation can help to influence the provision
of services so that they are the most appropriate to
meet local needs.
Research
To find out more about the different opportunities
for public participation in healthcare provision, use
the following links:
www.england.nhs.uk/get-involved – the NHS
England website provides a vast library of
information for individuals who would like to
participate in some way in the work of NHS
England.
www.healthwatch.co.uk/your-local-healthwatch/list
– local ‘Healthwatch’ groups give the opportunity
for the public to have an input into the type of
healthcare services provided in the local area.
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