Department of Health: Provides strategic leadership for public health the NHS and social care in England, the department of health purpose is to improve England’s health and well being and in doing so achieve better health, better care and better value for all. The vision for health and social care is focused around 5 key priorities:
A patient led NHS
Delivering better health outcomes
A more autonomous and accountable system
Improved public health
Reforming long term and social care
The Department of Health responsibilities for standards of health care including the NHS is to set the strategic framework for adult social care and influence local authority spend on social care they also set the direction on promoting and protecting the publics health taking the lead on issues such as environmental hazards to health, infectious diseases, health promotion and education, the safety of medicines and ethical issues. The Department of Health care responsible for finding the best ways to develop, support and deliver improvements for patients and the public there work in supporting delivery includes:
Performance monitoring and evaluation
Managerial and professional leadership for external groups
Building capacity and capability
Ensuring value for money
The department of health led the health and wellbeing into wider Government policy, working with other sectors and systems with which they do not have a direct relationship as well as integrating wider public policy into health and care services they also take the lead internationally on some health issues for the UK. There work on leading health and well-being for Government includes:
Working with the wider public sector
The 3rd and private sectors on issues such as health protection or lifestyle choices
Integrating health and well being with other Government agendas at regional level
Working with international partners including the EU, WHO and OECD
National Institute for health and care excellence (NICE): Is an independent organization responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health in England and Wales. NICE was established as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in 1999 partly to ensure equality of care and medicines prescribing across the NHS in England and Wales. The NICE provide 3 types of clinical guidance:
Technology appraisals
Clinical guidelines
Interventional procedures
The National Institute for health care excellence provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care it develops guidance, standards and information on high quality health and social care. It also advises on ways to promote healthy living and prevent ill health formerly the National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence NICE’s name changed on April 1 2013 to reflect its new role as a non-departmental public body and additional responsibility to develop guidance and set quality standards for social care as outlined in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 the NICE aims:
To help practitioners deliver the best possible care
To give people the most effective treatments based on latest evidence
To provide value for money
To reduce inequalities and variation
NICE products and resources are produced for the NHS, local authorities, care providers, charities and anyone who has a responsibility for commissioning or providing public health and social care services, its guidance is provided by healthcare professionals NHS staff, patients and carers, members of the academic world and other members of the wider healthcare and public health community. The guidance is expected to be taken into full consideration by healthcare professionals and organizations when deciding on treatment for patients, however it is not designed to replace the knowledge and skills of individual’s health professionals.
Sector Skills Council: Are an independent, strategic UK wide organizations they have responsibility for skills and workforce development of all those employed in their sectors from professionals staff to tradesmen and women, administrative staff, support staff and other ancillary workers. They also cover all sizes of employers from large firms to micro-business and the self-employed each sector skills council is an employer ked organization that actively involves trade unions, professional bodies and other key stakeholders. The sector skills council is responsible for funding, supporting and monitoring the network of Sector Skills Agency they licensed by the secretary of state for education and skills in consultation with Ministers in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The 4 key goals are:
Reduce skills gaps and shortages
Improve productivity
Increase opportunities for all individuals in the workforce
Improve learning supply
Health Protection Agency (HPA): Is an independent body with responsibility for protecting the health and well being of everyone living on England and Wales they provide up to date, impartial and authoritative advice for government, health professionals and the public their main responsibilities are to:
Identify and respond to human health hazards caused by infectious diseases, chemicals, poisons and radiation
Anticipate and prepare for new and emerging threats to human health
Provide specialist support to the National Health Service (NHS), local authorities and other agencies
Provide specialist health protection services include a rapid response to emergencies including those due to deliberate release
Advise government health professionals and the public on the best ways to protect health
If there is a risk of infection from any disease the Health Protection Agency will work closely together the HPA is responsible for identifying and contacting those at risk and who may need medication.