Wider healthcare systems Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the NHS?
The National Health Service in the UK, providing free healthcare at the point of access, funded primarily through taxation.
What are the three main levels of NHS care?
Primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care.
What is primary care?
Healthcare provided in the community for first contact—e.g., GP, dentist, community pharmacy.
What is secondary care?
Specialist care provided upon referral—e.g., hospital outpatient clinics.
What is tertiary care?
Highly specialised care, often in specialist hospitals—e.g., Royal Marsden or Great Ormond Street.
What is social care?
Support to live independently, including personal care and medication assistance.
Why were integrated care systems (ICSs) created?
To join up health and social care, improve outcomes, reduce inequalities, enhance value for money, and support social development.
How many ICSs are there in England?
42
What are the levels within the ICS structure?
ICS (1–3 million), Place-based Partnerships (250k–500k), Neighbourhoods (30k–50k), Primary Care Networks.
What are the aims of ICSs?
1) Improve population outcomes 2) Tackle inequalities 3) Enhance productivity 4) Support economic development.
What is Sussex Health and Care?
A local ICS including NHS Sussex, local councils, NHS providers, GPs, pharmacies, universities, and Healthwatch.
What is population health management?
A strategy to tailor services based on the health needs of the entire population.
How is healthcare assessed in the NHS?
Using KPIs, waiting lists, screening rates, immunisation data, and patient surveys.
What is the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?
An independent regulator that rates services from Excellent to Inadequate.
What is Healthwatch?
A champion for users of health and social care, gathering feedback and providing advice.
What is the NHS backlog situation (June 2023)?
7.57 million waiting for treatment; 3 million >18 weeks; over 97k >65 weeks.
What card replaced the EHIC for UK residents?
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
What is the NHS Long Term Plan’s stance on smoking cessation?
Supports hospital-to-pharmacy referral models for cessation.
Describe the Royal Oldham Hospital pilot project.
Inpatients receive bedside counselling and are referred to community pharmacies for smoking cessation.
How are pharmacists involved in A&E?
Taking medication histories, advising on treatment plans, preventing admissions.
What is the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service?
Allows GPs to refer patients to community pharmacists for minor ailments.
What is the benefit of integrating pharmacists in ICSs?
Improves medicines safety, access to care, and optimises treatment.
List four areas pharmacists contribute to in the healthcare system.
Community, hospital, research, clinical trials, education, regulation.
What does the NHS mean by ‘free at point of access’?
Patients do not pay directly at the time of use; it is tax-funded.
