A2: Healing and Support For People Who Are Ill

Question 1

There are clearly many different strategies that may be used to support…

Answer 1

there are clearly many different strategies that may be used to support the recovery of people who are ill

Question 2

What may be used to support the recovery of people who are ill?

Answer 2

many different strategies

Question 3

What will the precise support needed depend on?

Answer 3

the precise support needed will depend on the service user’s condition and also their wider social and personal needs

Question 4

The range of treatments and care procedures used in healthcare settings may include:

Answer 4

• prescribing medication
• surgery
• radiotherapy
• organ transplant
• support for lifestyle changes
• accessing support from specialist agencies

Question 5

PRESCRIBING MEDICATION
- who’s role traditionally?
- who else after training?
- other healthcare professionals?

Answer 5

• traditionally a doctor’ role
• some nurses have undergone additional training and taken on the role of a nurse prescriber
• other healthcare professionals such as dentists, chiropodists and physiotherapists can also prescribe

Question 6

SURGERY
- example of surgeries?
- health and care workers in the community…
- who? what do they do?
- why is community support necessary?

Answer 6

for example:
- cancerous tumours removed if caught early
- joint replacement surgeries in older people

• health and care workers in the community have an increasingly important role in those recovering from surgery

may include:
- visits from a DISTRICT NURSE to change dressings
- PHYSIOTHERAPIST to promote mobility and independence of daily living activities
- SOCIAL WORKERS may provide additional emotional support at this point and to check that the patient is accessing services available
- HOME CARE WORKERS may provide practical support and help where necessary

• community support is necessary as there is a trend to discharge people as soon as possible after surgery

Question 7

RADIOTHERAPY
- what is it?
- who is treatment planned by?
- what is it used to treat?
- who else may patients need support from and what for?
- common side effects?

Answer 7

• radiotherapy is treatment using high-energy radiation
• treatment is planned by skilled RADIOTHERAPISTS working alongside a team that includes RADIOGRAPHERS and specially trained NURSES
• although often used to treat cancer, it can also be used to treat non-cancerous tumours or other conditions such as disease of the thyroid gland
• patients may need support from their GP on the completion of treatment to ensure full healing
• common side effects include itchiness and peeling or blistering of the skin

Question 8

ORGAN TRANSPLANT
- what does it involve?
- what is the purpose?
- what organs can be transplanted?
- most common transplants?

Answer 8

• organ transplant involves either moving a body part or organ from one person’s body to another, or from one part of a person’s body to another location on their own body
• the purpose of the transplant is to replace the patient’s damaged or absent organ?

organs that can be transplanted include:
- heart
- kidneys
- liver (only part since it regenerates itself)
- lungs
- pancreas
- intestines

• the most common transplant is the kidneys, followed by the liver and then the heart

Question 9

ORGAN TRANSPLANT CONTINUED
- a living donor can only give…
- however, recently died patients?
- who carries out organ transplants?
- post operative support?

Answer 9

• a living donor can only give one of their kidneys, part of their liver and some other tissues (eg bone marrow)
• however, other transplants have come from donors that have recently died, so the recovery of a patient receiving a transplant may require the support of a councillor
• a highly skilled surgeon will carry out such procedures
• however, they require whole team of professionals to support the process before, during and after the transplant
• post operative support will be provided by a range of different healthcare professionals

Question 10

SUPPORT FOR LIFESTYLE CHANGES
- what benefits a persons health?
- what’s crucial in implementing/sustaining changes? examples?
- who can assist in setting up…? examples?

Answer 10

• support for lifestyle changes, changing the pattern of daily routines and habits that are bad for health can be beneficial to improving a person’s health
• counselling and the support of self-help groups may be crucial in implementing and sustaining lifestyle changes
• for example, introducing a more healthy diet, taking more exercise, reducing the amount of alcohol consumed, stopping smoking
• healthcare professionals can assist individuals to set up self-help groups
• for example, providing them with a space to meet or educational / promotional materials

Question 11

SUPPORT FROM SPECIALIST AGENCIES
- accessing support promotes…
- what can healthcare professionals inform about?
- what agencies? what do they do?

Answer 11

• accessing support from specialist agencies often promotes the health and wellbeing of service users, particular those with specific illnesses or disorders
• healthcare professionals can inform their service users about agencies:

AGE UK:
- providing services and support to promote the health and wellbeing of older people

MIND:
- providing services and support to people with mental health issues, and raises awareness of mental health

YOUNGMINDS:
- committed to improving the mental health of young children, campaigns for improvements to youth services

RNIB (THE ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BLIND PEOPLE):
- supports those affected by sight loss, both people who are partially sighted and those that are blind

ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY:
- provides information and support for those living with dementia and their families, and it funds research and promotes awareness of the condition