The Key Challenges to Medicine Flashcards
What are some achievements of the NHS so far?
1)Longevity (people are living longer BUT this also creates challenges)
Life expectancy for F=84 M=80. Majority of people living healthier lives.
2) Access to health services
Huge increase in healthcare availability.
How is evidence a challenge to medicine?
- May be literature isn’t true
- Can we rely on current systems of evidence?
- Clinicians must try to look at the best evidence
How are unhealthy behaviours a challenge to medicine, give examples?
- Smoking
- Childhood obesity- the less prosperity, the more obese
These unhealthy behaviours mean the NHS is losing a lot of money. Those who smoke/drink/eat unhealthy food are 4 times more likely to die in the next 10 years or prematurely compared to someone who doesn’t.
How is an ageing population a challenge to medicine?
- Increasing life expectancy
- people living longer means these older people in the population need more resources
- Many are living with non-communicable/chronic diseases or disabilities
- Sickest 3% of UK account for about 45% of hospital costs
How is shortage of Human Resources for Health a challenge for medicine?
- Not enough doctors
- Junior doctor contract disputes which mean many graduates may not stay in UK and work for the NHS
- Health Care Professionals suffering because they do not have enough support (lack manpower).
How is organisation of health services a challenge for medicine?
Most countries have weak public health, hospital based(curative) and no/weak primary care.
How is quality, safety and effectiveness of drugs a challenge to medicine?
20-40% of all health spending is wasted on:
- ineffective treatment
- counterfeit
- misused treatment
- incompetent health care professionals not well trained/need validation
(A&E costs 4 times as much as going to GP)
What is healthy life expectancy?
LIfe expectancy without disease/disability
