Health Status and Health Care Services in the United Kingdom

Health Status and Health Care Services in the United Kingdom with comparison to the United States HSM-310 Introduction to Health Services Management Course Project Date submitted: 10/18/2009 Table of Contents Executive Summary Population and Health Status†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Demographic characteristics of population Mortality, Infant mortality data, causes of death *Availability of Health Services* Basic organization/general description of services institutions, providers of care Issues related to access Utilization of services (data, if available) Other related information/analysis Expenditures How are health services paid for; any roles for the government here Data on total expenditures *Macro environmental influences on the health care system* Public Private *Summary comments* Problems Opportunities Other related comments regarding this country's health care services Comparison to the United States: what works better, what is not working as well†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Concluding comments: Lessons learned for the U. S. , other countries†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Bibliography (required)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Executive Summary The United Kingdom’s population is growing and the people are living longer, this could be due to the fact that healthcare is free and people are using it when they need it and not waiting to see a doctor when they can afford it. However, with the growing size of the population the cost of healthcare is rising and the need for funding the tax financed health plan needs to be reformed. Hopefully by seeing what other countries use to have a successful health care plan the UK can implement some of their ideas with their own and ucceed at having an efficient and effective health plan that delivers the highest quality of health care. Population and Health Status in the United Kingdom The Office of National Statistics reported that the population in the United Kingdom (UK) was 61. 4 million people in mid-2008, which is a 408,000 increase from the year before. The rise in population over the past 12 months is not due to migration but to the increased number of birth s and the decreased number in deaths (ONS, 2008). It seems that the people in the UK are living longer and leading healthier lifestyles than in the past. The life expectancy at the time of birth for males is 76. 52 years and 81. 63 for females, and the infant mortality rate is 4. 85 deaths per 1000 births (Flag Counter, 2009). Below are the top ten leading causes of death in the United Kingdom: Ischemic heart disease Lower Respiratory infections Cerebrovascular disease Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Colon and rectum cancers Breast Cancer Alzheimer and other dementias Prostate Cancer 10. Lymphomas, multiple myeloma (WHO,2009) Here in the US we share many of these leading causes except for Lymphomas and Prostate cancer, we add traffic accidents and diabetes mellitus. I would assume this is because Americans drive more than the British and that the general population of the US is overweight, which is a leading cause of diabetes. The US and the UK share nearly the same life expectancy and the infant mortality rate is a bit higher here in the US. Overall the US and the UK share little difference when it comes to life expectancy, infant mortality and the leading causes of death. Availability of Services The UK has a National Health Service (NHS) that is a publicly funded health care service. The NHS is divided into two different sections: primary and secondary care. The primary care section consists of General practice physicians, dentists, optometrists and pharmacist, the primary care section is referred to as the Primary Care Trust (PCT). The Secondary section is made up of acute or elective healthcare options, such as emergency and urgent care, ambulance and surgery, these acute services are referred to as NHS trusts. The PCT oversees around 29,000 GP’s and 18,000 dentists, there are around 175 acute NHS trusts, 60 mental health NHS trusts and 1600 NHS trusts hospitals. Emergency vehicles are also provided by an NHS ambulance services trusts; there are 11 of these ambulance services trust in England (NHS, 2009). The healthcare facilities are basically the same as they are here in the US; there are hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities, doctor’s offices and pharmacies. The main concern with the access of healthcare in the UK is the waiting times to be seen by a specialist after being referred by a primary physician. In England the wait time is around 18 weeks to see a specialist. Many patients in the UK have said that there is difficulty in accessing GP on the weekends or after-hours as well. As with other nations the UK also has a shortage of healthcare workers which increases the wait times and the quality of care that patients are receiving. The main focus of the NHS is to provide the highest quality of care as well as decreasing the wait times and adding more healthcare facilities. Expenditures The NHS was built on the ideal that healthcare should be provided to everyone regardless of wealth. With the exception of charges for some prescriptions and optical and dental services, the NHS remains free at the point of use for anyone who is resident in the UK. It covers everything from antenatal screening and routine treatments for coughs and colds to open heart surgery, accident and emergency treatment and end-of-life care. The NHS is a tax financed healthcare system, the public pays a higher tax for their healthcare to be free. The Department of Health much like that in the US, oversees the NHS. All employees of the NHS are government employees and are by paid by the government. There is a very small private sector of healthcare in the UK and if you either be seen by an NHS physician or by a private physician whom you would pay out-of-pocket to see. The responsibility for health legislation and policy rests in the hands of the government at the Parliament of Westminster. The treasury/finance ministry set a budget and that determines what share of government receipt will be used to finance the healthcare system. The budget is done in three year cycles. In 2004 the total healthcare expenditure in the UK was 101 billion pounds the funding for NHS alone was 86. 6 billion pounds. The expenditure on healthcare is continually rising. Here in the US the healthcare system is privately funded through grants, donations and fees for service. We pay insurance to cover our healthcare costs or we pay out of pocket for the services. There has been some concern on whether or not the UK NHS system will continue to work, taxes will need to increase and there will need to be more funding. There is a push to have a mixed system that is both private and public. *Macro environmental *Influences There is a common problem with the migrant jump to the UK to take advantage of the healthcare and the citizens are footing the bill. The need for funding for NHS is rising and there is concern on how they are going to continue to pay for the services. The UK is in need of a plan to implement a privately funded healthcare service alongside the tax financed service. Implement co-pays on some of the services that are provided and take into consideration the benefits of including the private sector. Summary Overall the UK has a well implemented plan for their healthcare services, the problems that they face are the same that are faced by many other countries, from funding to the quality and the accessibility of services. In comparison to the US the UK faces many of the same issues, the shortage of healthcare professionals to the need for reform. The universal health care plan has worked for the UK and the private plan has worked for the US in the past but now there needs to be changes made because of the rising cost of healthcare in both countries. The UK is learning that there is a need for change and that by seeing other countries such as the US use private health insurance plans they can create some kind of balance. Bibliography