The Role of Public Health in Health and Social Care

The Role of Public
Health in Health and
Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Role of different agencies to identify levels of diseases in communities.............................3
1.2 Statistical data related to infectious and non-infectious disease...........................................4
1.3 Effectiveness of approaches & strategies for controlling diseases.......................................5
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Use of research to determine priorities and approaches to provide services to infected
people..........................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Relationship between prevalence of disease and service requirements................................6
2.3 Impact of current lifestyle choices on future needs for health and social care services.......7
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Assessing the health and well being priorities for individuals..............................................8
3.2 Evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies, systems and policy under health and social
care set-up...................................................................................................................................8
3.3 Changes one can make to improve one health......................................................................9
3.4 Particular activity which has directly effected to encourage behavioural changes...............9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Public health is concerned with improving the overall health of the population and
protecting them from any health related issues through public based health promotion and
implication of public health policies. This helps in protecting the society from illness, diseases
and injuries so that overall public care can be ensured. In order to effectively monitor and
manage the services related to health care, the government public health agencies play an
important role in formulating guidelines which can help in protecting the society from infectious
and non-infectious diseases (Ascherio and Schwarzschild, 2016). A proper health analysis done
by these agencies can help in evaluating the risk related to particular disease and the reasons of
their cause. The responsibility for maintaining and improving public health lies with all sectors
of the society which can create a healthy and safe environment for all. Through this report
different strategies and approaches that can be used to control and monitor diseases will be
discussed along with the implication of illness and diseases on communities. Further factors that
influence health and well-being of individuals in social care will be discussed.
LO 1
1.1 Role of different agencies to identify levels of diseases in communities
Various agencies both at local and international levels work towards welfare of the
society by determining the health standards and analysing the key issues that influence health of
individuals and communities. Through regular research, data related to health issues are collected
so that proper guidelines can be formed and measures can be taken to prevent diseases from
spreading and promote healthy life style among people which can help in prolonging the life of
population. Assessment and monitoring of health related issues need to be regularly done so that
protection and prevention measures can be taken to ensure health and safety of people in society.
Healthy nation can go ahead on the path of development and prosper in the global competitive
scenario. Different agencies work at various levels so as to prevent and control diseases which re
discussed as follows :
 World Health Organisation (WHO) : It works at the international level and plays an
important role in monitoring and enforcing norms and standards for the countries so that
diseases can be removed and public health can be maintained. WHO analyse the

conditions of people around the globe and provides essential support by offering funds
and technology to improve health conditions of people (Bailey and et. al., 2017).
 Public Health England : It is an executive agency of the Department of Health in UK
which was formed as a result of reorganisation of National Health Service (NHS). It is a
leading public sector health care agency which has the authority to take decisions
regarding improvement and protection of nation's health and ensure well-being by
reducing health related inequalities. They give advices to government and support it so
that such policies and laws can be formed in the country which reduces the spreading of
disease and improving the conditions of social healthcare services.
 Other local government authorities : They run in local regions and get support from the
government and help in gathering statistical data related to conditions in which people
live. They provide information related to various diseases and medical facilities that are
available to people at local regions. This can help to overcome the negative impact of
infectious and non-infectious diseases on population.
1.2 Statistical data related to infectious and non-infectious disease
Diseases can be divided majorly in infectious and non-infectious diseases depending on
the way they spread among the people. Diseases caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi are called
infectious diseases whereas non-infectious diseases arise due to dietary deficiencies or heredity
conditions and are non-communicable. Examples of infectious and non-infectious diseases that
are found in UK are :
 Breast cancer : It is a disease mainly found in women and affects around 50,000 people
in UK along with men. Breast cancer develops in the breast tissue and may include a
lump in the breast, change in breast shape, dimpling on the skin etc. It is the third reason
which causes death due to cancer in UK. The number of patients that are affected by this
malignancy are increasing which is also increasing health issues in the population of UK.
 HIV : HIV is a virus which spreads by coming in the contact of infected body fluids
which attacks the immune system of the person which makes the body of person weak
and unable to fight even simplest of body infections and diseases. Around 1,03,800 are
diagnosed with HIV in UK. Increasing number of patients are facing deaths due to
increase in the spread of this disease (British HIV Association, 2019).