Public Health's Role: Improving Health and Social Care Outcomes

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of public health in health and social care, with a focus on the UK context. It begins by outlining the responsibilities of organizations like the WHO, Department of Health, and local authorities in identifying health and disease levels within the population. The report then delves into the epidemiology of HIV and breast cancer in the UK, supported by statistical data, and evaluates the effectiveness of NHS strategies for controlling these diseases. Furthermore, it addresses current priorities for disease prevention and control, the relationship between disease prevalence and healthcare service requirements, and the impact of lifestyle choices on future healthcare needs. The report also assesses health and well-being priorities in specific care settings, evaluates the effectiveness of existing strategies and policies, suggests improvements for individual health and well-being, and evaluates activities designed to encourage positive behavior change. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a range of study tools and solved assignments for students.

The Role Of Public Health In
Health And Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 What are the role played by WHO, Department of Health (DH) and Local Authorities in
identifying levels of health and disease in the population..........................................................3
1.2 Explain using statistical data, the epidemiology of HIV and Breast Cancer in United
Kingdom......................................................................................................................................4
1.3 How effective are different approaches and strategies adopted by NHS to control breast
cancer and HIV in UK.................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
2.1 What are the current priorities for prevention and control of diseases and risk factors in the
UK?.............................................................................................................................................7
2.2 What is the relationship between the prevalence of breast cancer or HIV in UK and
requirements of health services to support individuals with breast cancer?...............................8
2.3 Analyse the impact of current lifestyle choices on future needs for health and social care
services........................................................................................................................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
3.1 Assess the health and well-being priorities for individuals in a particular health or social
care setting................................................................................................................................10
3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies, systems and policies in a health or social care
setting........................................................................................................................................11
3.3 Discuss changes that could be made to improve the health and well being of individuals in
a health or social care setting....................................................................................................11
3.4 Evaluate an activity that has been implemented to encourage behaviour change for
maximizing health for individuals in a health an social care....................................................12
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Public health refers to a science and art of promoting health, preventing disease and
prolonging life. It includes to enhance the capabilities of healthcare sector in terms of
maintaining better health condition of overall population. Meanwhile, it consist an effective role
of care practitioners in terms of carry out health promotion events for increasing awareness
among citizens for maintaining their well-being (Crawford and et. al., 2015). It is helpful to
provide them information about efficient precautions of daily life in order to avoid infectious
diseases. However, it is essential for people, government and care professionals to focus on
overall health status of population and together work towards it for improving global well-being.
In context of this report, it will focus on roles of different agencies to determine levels of disease
and approaches & strategies to control various health problems. It will also include current
priorities & approaches for care services and relation between prevalence of disease & need of
facilities along with impact of lifestyle choices. The effectiveness of strategies, systems &
policies and changes in behaviour & health care setting for improving wellness of people is
given below.
TASK 1
1.1 What are the role played by WHO, Department of Health (DH) and Local Authorities in
identifying levels of health and disease in the population
It explain the role of different agencies in deciding the level diseases and health in the
society. It impact of our lifestyle which is changing on the health of the people. There are many
element which causing health and well being in assemblage, many entities or person in the
society have a role to play in responding to needs of healthcare societies (Davis and et. al.,
2015).
World Health Organisation (WHO) is considered as an organ of United Nation, who is
primarily responsible for coordinating and directing the public health. It was brought up at 7th
April 1948, headquarters in Switzerland. The goal of WHO is to ensure that the entire population
have enough health coverage so as to protect many more people from the emergencies related to
health. They aim in promoting and keeping the world healthy and safe so that the vulnerable
people can get benefit out of it and can serve their life like normal individuals. For covering the
health coverage and emergencies, they focus on improving access to common and vital

medicines and train the healthcare provider to support people professionally. They also aid in
detecting the acute health emergencies, social determinants and support by mitigating the risk
factors of deadly diseases. Such work assist in controlling the antimicrobial resistance, non
communicable diseases as well as communicable diseases globally.
The Department of Health (DH), has vital role in controlling the health associated
emergencies by providing a proper medical response when there is a need of first aid, nursing,
pharmaceutical supplies, mental heath services so as to counter health disasters. They aid in
providing laboratory services like monitoring and diagnosing the treatment and diseases (Anson,
2017). DH not only work in providing timely medical health but also help in monitoring the
quality of water and food, control radiation hazards, maintain hygiene and sanitation to prevent
the spread of diseases. They also conduct training programmes or give advices on disposal,
sewage and vector control so as to reduce the risk of infection.
Local authorities like Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was established in 2012.
Such organisations are NHS bodies which are accountable for commissioning and planning
better health outcomes of health care services in local areas. This includes monitoring the local
needs, making strategies and policies and then focus on buying the health services such as
clinics, hospitals and social care services for local population. They constantly keep a check in
improving the outcomes, so that they can quickly adapt to the change in local areas and can
provide measures to deliver healthier future.
1.2 Explain using statistical data, the epidemiology of HIV and Breast Cancer in United
Kingdom
Epidemiology is defined as the study of why and how frequently the diseases is occurring
in different areas and to various group of people. The information gathered through the
evidences of epidemiology aids in evaluating and deciding the strategies to mitigate and prevent
disease, which can later be used as a guide to monitor patients who are suffering from prolonged
illness or disease (Barrington, 2019).
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a deadly disease which falls under the
category of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) that deteriorates an individual's immune system
by destructing the white blood cell which actually fights during the infection. Such disease is
mostly transmitted by unprotected sex with the individual already suffering from HIV. AIDS is
considered as the final stage of HIV. There is as such no certain cure but many medicines are

present to fight against it. The epidemiology of HIV is broad and according to WHO,
approximately 75 million people have been contaminated and infected by HIV virus and around
32 million have died due to such disease. It has been estimated that 37.9 million people are
surviving with HIV at 2018 end and been treating the disease by taking medicines and support of
antiretroviral regimens.
(Source: Prevalence of HIV, 2019)
The above graph represents the number of pregnant women infected by HIV in UK at
1988-96.
Breast Cancer is a kind of cancer that develops in the tissues of breast. The glob in breast,
alteration in the shape, red patchy area around breast, fluid oozing out of nipples are few signs of
breast cancer. The risk factors may include obesity, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise,
menopause, radiations and many more (Brownson, Colditz and Proctor, 2018). Few cases may
emerge due to genes which are inherited from parents. Though, breast cancer is curable if
detected early, but if the cancer has already been spread then the treatment is quite difficult.
Around 55,213 individual have been diagnosed in UK at 2014-16 and approximately 11,399
patients have died due to breast cancer in 2015-17. It has been observed that radiotherapy and
chemotherapy is an effective way of treating the cancer which uses high energy waves to destroy
the cancer cells.
Illustration 1: Prevalence of HIV

1.3 How effective are different approaches and strategies adopted by NHS to control breast
cancer and HIV in UK
As observed HIV and breast cancer is a leading cause of increasing mortality rate in the
patients. Thus, various strategies and approaches have been adopted by NHS to control such
deadly diseases. Some of the approaches are described below.
Screening : The screening of HIV is the first diagnostic step to check whether an
individual is suffering from AIDS or not. NHS provides free screening of this diseases, thus
allowing the poor people to diagnose their health condition. They also provide home sampling
and home testing kits to check the possibility of having such disease (Duckett and Willcox,
2015). The screening practice of breast cancer can be improved by monitoring mammography
for lowering the odds of dying from such disease.
Health education : Diseases can be controlled by providing prior education on the
preventive measures and harmful effects of disease to the population. Social welfare programmes
and trainings can be provided to mitigate and control the spread of HIV and cancer and give the
information about how and why the disease transmit and what are the common and first signs
and symptoms of the illness throughout the community. The potential risk factors can also be
advised to the public so that the chances of getting disease gets lower.
Immunisation : Through immunisation an individual can become immune to certain
diseases and infection (Izadirad and Zareban, 2015). Our body cells can be immunised against
breast cancer is by vaccine which produce antibodies against the antigen. The vaccine produced
for HIV does not protect against infection but aids against getting diseases.
Environmental control : By maintaining the safe environment, clear reduction in
mortality rates can be observed due to diseases. Safe sex, using condoms, limiting the number of
sexual partners and by maintaining healthy and hygienic environment can lower the chance of
getting AIDS. By reducing weight and relying on natural products and healthy food an individual
can safeguard themselves from getting breast cancer.

TASK 2
2.1 What are the current priorities for prevention and control of diseases and risk factors in the
UK?
Burden of disease can be defined as overall consequences of a particular disease or area
of harmful disease with respect to disabilities in a society. Social aspects, health and costs to
society are the major consequences. However, the gap between an ideals situation in which each
individual is free of diseases and disabilities and increasing current health status can be
mentioned as burden of disease (Johnson and Gunn, 2015). It is a way to assess the health status
of a population by focusing on life expectancy, based on death rate estimates. It is often
measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years. (DALY)
One DALY can be consider as loosing one year of a good health by either cause of
premature death or disease. It can be define as one lost year of healthy life. It was develop in
1990 for comparing the overall health and life expectancy of various countries. Health
accountability can be expressed by using years of life lost (YLL) because of dying early.
Moreover, years lost due to disability (YLD) is a measure of burden of living with disability.
DALY can be calculated by taking the sum of both these components.
DALY= YLL=YLD
where, YLL= years of life lost
YLD= years lost due to disability
However, diseases like Breast cancer can be prevented by primary secondary and tertiary
methods. The primary prevention of breast cancer within population involves health promotion
and risk reduction in population so that it will not develop. Secondary prevention include
screening of disease and putting efforts to end the disease before it develops fully (Golden and
et. al., 2015). And tertiary prevention is to focus on population who are effected by this disease
with a goal to minimise the complications and restoring functions.
Multidisciplinary approach to treat breast cancer is to provide specific services to the
patients. Activities are involved using a care plan for the patients. Treatment involves
mastectomies surgery which is a approach to treat breast cancer which include removing of
whole breast. Type of Mastectomies surgery is radiation therapy which kills damaged cells.
HIV is another global health issue in which primary prevention involve to spread
awareness among population about the infection and promoting health. The secondary

prevention helps in to engage individuals to reduce risk factors for further developing HIV.
Tertiary prevention focus on to improve quality of life and to reduce symptoms of disease and
complications. Multidisciplinary approach to treat HIV infection is to improve clinical results of
HIV patients and to support them by fulfilling their requirements (Hanson and Gluckman, 2015).
Lymphadenopathy is a surgery which is used to treat patients suffering from HIV.
2.2 What is the relationship between the prevalence of breast cancer or HIV in UK and
requirements of health services to support individuals with breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the most common medical disorder in UK which is increasing day by
day. 9 out of 10 women in UK is surviving from breast cancer. 11,500 people die from this
disease. However, by analysing such prevalences of the disease in respective country there is a
need for appropriate health services to support individuals suffering from breast cancer. Some of
the approaches are given below:
Planning: Care for Breast cancer should be provided by breast specialist. All the patients
of breast cancer should be handled by a multidisciplinary team. There should be routine
screening of this disease in order to analyse what percentage of population are at risk to develop
breast cancer. Patients should be seen by clinical professionals with specialisation in breast
disease. After confirmation of breast cancer, the outcomes should be discussed with patient.
Nurses of breast care should be present and patients should know all the important components
of the treatment. There should be training sessions for breast cancer clinical team to teach them
necessary communication skills to communicate with patient. Also, patients must be assigned to
individual nurse who look after the patient throughout the whole treatment.
Facilities: For treating breast cancer, facilities are provided to the individuals. There
must be clinical professionals for patients of breast cancer to regular assess clinical practices.
Some alternative therapies such as massage or aromatherapy. The patients must be provided with
appropriate chemotherapy suite (Cheng and et. al.., 2015). Funding should be provided to t
patients who are not able to afford the treatment. Government of UK should support them
financially and arrange funds for individuals suffering from cancer. Separate rooms and hospitals
should be made for them with all necessary requirements.
Expertise: Healthcare professionals with specialisation in breast cancer should perform
the treatment. As it will be beneficial for patient to recover soon and to reduce further risks.
Local government or state government of UK should hire clinical breast cancer specialist and

provide them appropriate equipments and machines to treat their patients better and to deliver
quality care.
Funding: Breast cancer in UK receive the highest funding as compare to other type of
cancer. However, Cancer research UK is funded mostly by public through different forms like
donations, legacies, events, partnerships and so on. Around 40,000 people are volunteers for
breast cancer treatment.
2.3 Analyse the impact of current lifestyle choices on future needs for health and social care
services
There are many factors which are impacting health of population such as eating habits,
intake of substances, work environment etc. Such factors are becoming reason for illness of an
individual (Kroneman, Boerma and Groenewegen, 2016). Bad habits of taking drugs and alcohol
are impacting health status of individual. Obesity and intake of drugs are two main habits in UK
that are causing health problems among individuals.
Obesity: Eating habits of people is the main cause of obesity. Accumulation of fats in the
body leads to obesity. premature death in adults can be reduce to 8% if proper weight is
maintain by them. Percentage of obese people in UK has been increase by 13%in men and 10%
in women. There are reasons for increasing number of obese people in UK. Such reasons are:
 Poor diet: Bad habits of people in UK such as eating excess amount of fast food and
taking high sugar diet are the main reason of them getting obese.
 Lack of physical activities: There is no existence of physical exercises in daily routine of
people nowadays. Sitting jobs of individuals leads to cause them obese as they sit all day
without any involvement of physical exercises. This may increase the amount of fats in
their body and cause obesity (Thomas, 2017). Department of health suggests that an
individual should do 15 minutes of physical exercise daily in order to maintain health
conditions.
Other health problems arising in UK are:
Smoking: It is the most common reason of premature death in adults in England.
According to data, almost 80,000 people die every year because of smoking habits.
Implementation of social health clubs in the society will encourage individuals to reduce the
number of smoke. Government programs must be conducted to educate people about the bad

consequences of smoking. This is the matter of concern as individuals are effecting environment
also by their smoking habits.
Work culture: Working hours and night shifts have a negative impact on individual
health. People are becoming workaholic and prioritising their work before health. Hence, they do
not get time for their own health (Willis, Reynolds and Keleher, 2016).
TASK 3
3.1 Assess the health and well-being priorities for individuals in a particular health or social care
setting.
An individual health assessment is a programme of care which determine the particular;r
need of a person an how these needs will be addresses by healthcare system, and skilled nursing
facility. Health charge is the judgement of the health position of person with health time.
Health Priorities for a person in health and social care:
The beginning of new legislature gives a chance for governmental and health leaders to
create long term program that set the NHS and social care system. There are some priorities that
is followed by health and social care are-
 Excess funding situation facing NHS by extra funding easily over the course of
government and publishing the presume underlying the billion of needed efficiency
savings.
 Assessment of the problems in the management and culture and work crosswise
organisations to put in place an action plan to gear them (Rocha and et. al., 2015).
Well-being Priorities for a person in health and social care
The priorities to deliver the improvement in healthy life and reduction of life expectancy,
the well being and health priorities has been identified are as follows- To reduce the impact of
poor mental health, improve cancer prevention and screening, reduce harms from alcohol, reduce
harm from drugs and smoke as well as the number of people who use tobacco, reduce physical
inactivity, Engage in mindful living, set boundaries, Breakup with the perfectionism, take daily
break rituals, find fun and funny, practice for self care etc.

3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies, systems and policies in a health or social care setting.
In health and social care providers in the states and countries and the strategies that have
been used by them in state to keep the society from critical and severe diseases. For proper
observation and come through the services by strategies and policies of health and social care.
Strategies in a health and social care : The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of
shared care strategy for improvement coordination in health and social care. In several nations
there are two parallel healthcare networks are intervention and other one is control. It is the
specific set of operating structures and activities that an administration puts in place to deliver
worth to its customers (Roberts and Chapman, 2017). Increment grow and develop patients
count, there are several types strategies which effect on health and social care are understand
new target audience, get social with social media marketing, track the right data, establish an
email marketing plan, create videos to connect with patients, Invest in Healthcare specifically
local SEO, messaging capabilities so patients can communicate quickly with providers, doctors
or specialist lookup. Health supply videos , emergency wait room times etc.
Systems and Policies in health and social care: Effectiveness of healthcare policies and
systems is critically essential as it sets a generic plan or action used to important guideline to
assist and make decisions for desirable outcomes. The goal of this policy is to connect to workers
in administration. The effective policies for health and social care are New laws and regulation,
Utilizing technology and education, The best software for healthcare policy and systems, policy
in medical, Policies basically mention plans, actions, decisions that are appropriated to reach
particular healthcare goals within communities. It specify a visual sense for the future day which
modify to help and set up points and mark in medium and short terms (Meng and et. al., 2015).
There are different forms of health care policies which is Health maintenance organisations,
exclusive provider structure, High deductible health plans, preferred provider organisations
which might be connected to health savings accounts.
3.3 Discuss changes that could be made to improve the health and well being of individuals in a
health or social care setting
Change is essential in health care settings in terms of enhancing capabilities and
effectiveness of clinical practices to gain better outcomes. It includes to adopt new innovative
techniques and methods for enhancing outputs of medical procedures. However, it will facilitate
to reduce chance of occurring complications and improve patients outcomes respectively.

Innovative Technology- In health and well being of individual should be improve the
facilities will bring in new technology and thinking. The goal for each and every department to
have control of all patient in an surroundings that feels more better like an hotel and home then a
sterile hospitals. The facilities of hospitals should be good and the facilities should be more
united and cohesive.
Maintain Equality- Maintain the equality means check everyone that has regardless of
their abilities, equal opportunities. The service users and patients are individual persons, should
ensure that needs of patients and the service giving by department should be profitable for them
and they provide equal services to persons. It is most important component of health and social
care (Stanhope and Lancaster, 2015). The services are provided by health and social care
department to people should be fair and accessible to all patients. To maintain the equality
should not b seen as extra profit to health and social care setting but more as inherent component.
It assure that individual as treated as equivalent, that person acquire the respect and dignity that
they deserve. Work environment is concerned with preventing active or passive which is
discrimination.
Training to staff members- By training staff will become more aware for work and
about patients care and well being. The preparation improve the athlete's performance, training
of social and healthcare worker will improve their presentation to patients. Training to staff is
improve benefits and loyalty, management who are agreed to help workers and develop their
careers will discover that staff feel more busy and engaged. The new level of training of staff that
takes care homes and domiciliary care (Rudge, 2016).
3.4 Evaluate an activity that has been implemented to encourage behaviour change for
maximizing health for individuals in a health an social care
Behavioural change is promote the health for persons in health and social care, This
change is modify and transform the human nature, a wide range of approaches and activities that
focus on the nature of assemblage, individual. Environmental causes etc.
Health Promotion: It has examining that societal, cultural, economical causes which
impact on lifestyle and behaviours of health from cigarette, drugs, smoke, alcohol consumption
to mental representation of safe sexual life nature and uptake vaccine to modify all organisations
to raise control to their health, attain, regain good health, prevent diseases, authorise them to
maintain health.