Public concerns have a negative effect on the care sector causing a lack of trust. Bad press leads to the public feeling that all care establishments operate in a neglectful way. Good practice is rarely recognised in the media. Through public concern during this time, people’s concerns lead to many investigations and changes, which lead to Winterbourne being closed
In the late 2000s the healthcare commission began an investigation into the Mid Staffordshire Hospital, England. Concerns come to light because of the hospitals unusually high mortality rates. When the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust failed to provide an adequate explanation, the Healthcare Commission began a full-scale investigation. Years of unsatisfactory investigation eventually led to a full public inquiry, led by Robert Francis in 2010.
an assessment of their community care needs under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990.
The changes to health policy and the re-organisation of the NHS in recent years which has led to improve integrated governance, has all developed as a result of the catastrophic failings that occurred in Mid-Staffordshire healthcare Trust. The Secretary of State for health, Andrew Lansley, announced a full public inquiry to parliament on the 9th June 2009 into the role of the commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies in the monitoring of Mid-Staffordshire Foundation Trust (Midstaff inquiry online, 2013). This inquiry was led by Robert Francis QC, who proposed recommendations to ensure that similar events do not repeat in future. The Francis report made 290 recommendations which included improved support for compassionate, caring and committed care, as well as stronger healthcare leadership (Health Foundation Online, 2014).
The Open University (2010) K101 An introduction to health and social care, Unit 3, ‘Social Care In The Community’, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
The Care Programme Approach Association, (2006) National Standards and CPA Association Audit Tool for the Monitoring of the Care Programme Approach. Chesterfield: CPAA
Public Expectations: In Health and Social Care, the public expects employees/workers to be caring, respectful towards the patients protected characteristics which means avoiding conflicts such as discrimination and inequality treatments. They should be able to protect personal information of the patients by following the 'Data protection and Confidentiality Act 1998'. They are expected to give good supportive advice towards their patients and employees to improve the quality of work and welfare benefits. They expect higher standards of care, detailed information about their treatment, communication and involvement in decisions making activities and also access to the latest treatments (Thekingsfund,
Furthermore, they have introduced a human rights approach, which is to respect diversity, promote equality help to ensure that everyone using health and social care services receives safe and good quality care. Human rights approach will help to apply the principle of promoting equality. The CQC have a process in which you answer five key questions to consistently integrate human rights into the way they regulate, which healthcare providers must work alongside. They also have equality objectives which were introduced in 2017, the objectives are, person-centred care and equality, accessible information and communication, equal access to pathways of care and to continue to improve equality of opportunity for our staff and those seeking to join CQC, as well as patients. Also filling in a safeguarding adults review, which is a process for all partner agencies to identify the lessons that can be learned from complex or serious safeguarding adult’s cases, where an adult in vulnerable circumstances has died or been seriously injured because of abuse or neglect. At winterbourne view residential home, abuse and neglect had been made clear to the public eye and could clearly be identified, although no staff logged it as a safe guarding adult
In an ideal medical society, no dilemma should arise on whistleblowing associated with poor medical practice or illegal behaviours. However these dilemmas arise when these whistle blowers take privileged information to the public in order to address their personal concerns or conscience. It can however be said that they are often left with little or no choice. Lipley (2001) discusses a case which occurred in the UK where a nurse wrote to the media reportedly that the elderly inpatients at her organisation did not receive adequate care and that this was jeopardising their lives. The appeals tribunal ruled that her decision was right and was both reasonable and an acceptable way to raise such issues ...
Health and social care professionals encounter a diverse amount of individuals who have different needs and preferences regarding their health. As professionals they must ensure that all services users, whether it is older people with dementia, an infant with physical disabilities or an adult with an eating disorder (National Minimum Data Set for Social Care, [no date]), are treated in a way that will successfully meet such needs. In fact, health and social care professionals have a ‘duty of care’ towards services users, as well as other workers, in which they must legally promote the wellbeing of individuals and protect them against harm, abuse and injury. (The Care Certificate Workbook Standard 3, [no date]) Duty of care is a legal requirement
A positive care environment is reinforced by legislation and national care standards implemented by the Scottish Government. Legislation such as, Data Protection Act 1998, Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, GIRFEC (Getting it right for every child) and the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 put safeguards in place to give the service user legal rights.
The most important distinction between medical care and public health is public health comes down to prevention and promotion. Medical care comes down to the treatment after the fact. Medical care deals with the individual patient, while public health takes the community and populations into consideration. Public health is much broader of a concept when it comes to comparing it with medical care. Medical care works with the illness once it occurs while public health prevent illness before it even happens through educational programs, policy changes, and research. According to cdcfoundation.org, “a large part of public health is promoting healthcare equality, quality, and accessibility.” Treatment is also a big component to the distinction of medical care and public health. Medical care treatment is from doctors, nurses, etc.; “treatment” in terms of public health is through legislation, laws, and agencies like the Cdc. Public health treats the community through the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Another big distinction comes from the involvement of politics. Public health has correlations to politics. This is because to have prevention
Vulnerable patients are those who cannot act on their own to protect themselves from threats to their health and dignity. A vulnerable patient encompasses a wide range of individuals and includes both adults and children. An adult is a person who is over 18 years of age and is described as a vulnerable patient if they are suffering from learning, physical and sensory disability. This includes disorders such as autism, cystic fibrosis and blindness and also includes sufferers of dementia. A child is a person aged less than 18 years and is described as vulnerable regardless if they have a disability. Irrespective of whether a child is living independently or in further education they are still entitled to services or protection under the Children Act (1989). A child is deemed as vulnerable as they are unable to protect themselves and this vulnerability is judged on varying factors such as, physical and emotional development, ability to communicate needs, mobility, size and dependence.
Service is when someone uses their skill and effort to enrich the wellbeing of others. It is an inherited trait of every individual to look after himself or herself. Service is a benevolent or an altruistic effort in which the benefits typically used for oneself are offered to another. Temple hospital offers community health workers to patients who are in need.
The Care Programme Approach Association (2006) National Standards and CPA Association Audit Tool for the Monitoring of the Care Programme Approach. Chesterfield: CPAA.
Davis, C; Finlay, L; & Bullman, A. (2000) ‘Changing Practice in Health and Social Care, London: Open University Press