Health and Social Care Sector : Assignment

1Running head: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
The Role of Public Health in Health and Social Care
Name of student:
Name of university:
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2HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Introduction
Health and social care sector is an integral part of all communities across the globe that
ensures wellbeing and better health outcomes of the individuals across life spans. Since
health is a key concern for all individuals, public health organisations are responsible for
delivering best services that cater all the needs of end users in an appropriate manner. Health
care sector is structured in a systematic manner with well-defined and managed
functionalities so that services delivered are of optimal quality. To address the varied and
evolving health concerns of the community, and an ageing population, the government of
respective countries are taking significant initiatives to oversee the functioning of the health
care systems (Harper 2014). Health management policies and procedures are being reformed
that can be adequate for these evolving concerns. The role of different organisations and
agencies deserve a special mention in this respect since a collaborative approach between
these structures enhances service delivery. The processes that such agencies implement are to
be evaluated continually to highlight their effectiveness and need of further modifications.
The priorities of health action plan change as the needs of the communities that consider
different social and economic determinants of health. In short, health and social care sector
plays an important role in the lives of individuals from all layers of the community.
Task 1

3HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
1.1
The primary function of WHO is to provide support
and assistance in form of services to varied healthcare
institutions that have healthcare providers with low
performance but potential to grow. WHO also
collaborates with other healthcare organisations for
helping them to implement activities and programs
aimed towards achieving better community health
outcomes. The help is more prominent at times of
disease outbreaks, calamities and disasters that create
alarming situations.
NHS is a primary body accountable for supervising
implementation of wide range of significant heath related
activities. The Secretary of State for heath is the chief
governor who is supposed to manage all activities held in
the country. Commands and guidelines are put forward
by the agency that is responsible for reforming
processes, policies and researchers related to disease
management. Action plans are set up for managing the
health condition of the public in a better manner.
PCT has its focus on particular areas of
public health promotion as assigned to
them. Action plan is set per the needs of
the particular community and the agency
is supposed to reach out to every
individual of the community to address
the emerging issue.
HPA is another noteworthy agency that helps in
understanding levels of diseases nd heath across
communities. The function of the agency is to uphold the
protection of the community against dangers, mainly related
to diseases. This implies that HPA oversees all changes
occurring in the level of community health where there is an
involvement of infectious and disease causing equipment,
chemical and material. The agency is designed for catering
to the diversified concerns of individuals so that future
harmful incidences can be prevented from occurring and
breakouts can be avoided if such situations occur in future.
The roles of different agencies in the process of
identification of levels of health and diseases in
different communities are noteworthy. Some of the
noteworthy agencies are World Health organisation
(WHO), National Health Services (NHS), Primary
Care Trust (PCT) and Health Protection Agency
(HPA).
Roles of different agencies in identification of levels of
health and diseases in different communities

4HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
1.2
Infectious and non-infectious diseases in United Kingdom
The above estimates show that although, the
undiagnosed HIV cases has fallen by 24 %
from 2014, still there are 13,500 people
unaware of their infection, despite of the
situation that HIV testing and treatment is
being made free and available in UK.
Cardiovascular diseases are the non-infectious
diseases that have highest mortality rate in UK
like coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.
Among the infectious diseases, HIV is the main
cause of death globally in UK. Although, there is
no single source of data for analysing the overall
infectious disease burden in UK, in 2015, around
101,200 people in UK are diagnosed with HIV
where 13% people were unaware of the infection.
Around 55% men and 49% women received a
late diagnosis in 2015 and the rates of
transmission have increased from 2,860 to 3,320
in 2010 and 2014 respectively.
CHD prevalence has projected from 2.4 million
since 2010 and likely to increase to 2.8 million by
2020 in England. The wide discrepancies in the
incidence spread and mortality from CHD is
having high rates in UK where risk factors are
related to lifestyle factors and diet with tobacco
chewing, smoking and high serum cholesterol
levels.
This increase in trend of overweight and related
heart problems are contributing to the burden of
non-communicable diseases like CHD in UK due
to lifestyle factors. CHD is a also a major concern
for UK and public health issues as reducing
obesity can make an impact on the increasing
CHD statistics.
HIV is becoming the biggest global public concern in UK that the country is facing with
thousands of HIV positive cases prevailing in the country. After the advancement of
medical treatment and healthcare in UK from last three decades, HIV cases are still at
alarming stage. UK government is maintaining its sincere efforts with scaling of healthcare
services to prevent the transmission of HIV. They are also looking into the late diagnosis
rates and its impact on UK public health, as undiagnosed individuals are more likely to pass
the infection to others.