Global Public Health Report: UK Health Issues, Challenges, and System

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of public health in the United Kingdom, examining key health issues and challenges such as tuberculosis, lung cancer, and road accidents. It delves into the historical context and development of the UK's healthcare system, highlighting significant policies and reforms. Furthermore, the report predicts the future health of the UK population by assessing relevant health indicators and progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3. The report also discusses the impact of healthcare expenditure and the role of the National Health Service (NHS) in improving healthcare outcomes. Overall, the report offers insights into the evolution and current state of public health in the UK, alongside future projections and the impact of various health policies and initiatives.

Global Public Health
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Global Public Health........................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Section A: Introduction and an overview of the main health issues/ challenges in United
Kingdom.................................................................................................................................3
Section B: Discuss the health system in United Kingdom.....................................................5
Section C: Predict the future health of population in United Kingdom using relevant health
indicators................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Public health can be stated as the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease as well
as prolonging life through organised society’s. It assists in protecting as well as enhancing health
of individuals and communities (Rosen, 2015). It also assists in detecting the issues associated
with health as early as possible as well as response properly in order to avoid disease
development. This report is based on the country United Kingdom which is an island nation in
north western Europe. The communicable disease taken in this project is tuberculosis, non-
communicable disease is cancer and the injury is car accident. This report covers the main
health issues and challenges in the country along with discussion of health system in United
Kingdom. Apart from this, the prediction about future health of population is also included in the
report.
MAIN BODY
Section A: Introduction and an overview of the main health issues/ challenges in United
Kingdom
United Kingdom, island nation located off north-western coast of continental Europe. It
comprises the entire of island of Great Britain – that contains Scotland, England and Wales – and
the northern part of island of Ireland. Britain is sometimes utilized to refer to UK as a whole.
According to the analysis has been identified that, London United Kingdom continuously faced
the challenge of tuberculosis. It is the combination of environmental, clinical and social factors
that make individual within this province susceptible to tuberculosis. It has been determined that
due to lack of basic information of the manner in which this disease is spread prevention and
diagnosis of this disease is challenging (Porter, 2020). It has been determined that in the year
2014 there were 2500 new cases of tuberculosis in London that range of approximately 40% of
all the cases in United Kingdom. Furthermore it has been identified that 1/3rd of London
significantly exceed the WHO incidence. It has been determined that there was certain groups in
the provinces of London population those who were at higher risk of this disease as in this
individual or social groups who live in the area where at high level of risk of Tuberculosis. It has
been identified that there is a significant link among migration and tuberculosis disease, as this
disease take place among those individuals who were born abroad. However, this is overcome
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with the help of developing clinical commissioning group which is responsible individually for
commissioning and delivering tuberculosis services (Murray and Wincott, 2020). In addition to
this in order to effectively overcome this disease local government recognise the economic and
moral incentives of investments in tuberculosis management and control. This is done to prevent
community transmission of this disease.
Figure 1Tuberculosis case reports and rates, UK, 2004-2013
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-in-the-uk)
In addition to this lung cancer is also one of the major health issue in the provinces of United
Kingdom. However according to the last 10 year analysis it has been identified that lung cancer
incidence has fallen in United Kingdom by 11% that reflects reduction in smoking among men.
However it has been identified that the overall incidence of lung cancer remains at high with
3900 cases in the year 2006 (Shears, 2014). This has been evaluated that lung cancer has an
enormous impact upon United Kingdom’s National mortality rate.
In addition it has been identified that a significant there was increase in road accidents in
the provinces of United Kingdom. According to the report of the department of transportation
nearly 1752 deaths reported in the 2019. It is the major challenge in the Healthcare system of
United Kingdom in which government have undertaken responsibility in order to ensure that
significant measures and policies being undertaken in order to prevent road casualties. In
addition to the according to the national travel survey it has been identify that significant
decrease in road accident injuries is measured with help of various plans and programs.
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Section B: Discuss the health system in United Kingdom
Health care system of United Kingdom is developed as the whole population of this country is
covered by the National Healthcare System; it is mainly financed via general taxation and
generally run by The Department of Health. However it has been identified that this country
measure significant historical account of key health trends as well as events. There were number
of building blocks of health care system that developed current healthcare system of this country
in an effective manner (Stephenson and et., 2018). It has been identified that the Milk Act, 1934
was mainly enacted to offer free milk to children in school range from 8 to 11 year. However this
act was further get replaced by the education act 1971. It has been determined that the changes in
this happened due to resistance around the country mainly to the Board of Education strategy. In
addition to this it has been identified that The National Assistance act 1948 was established to
offer assurance to those individuals who are above the age group of 16 year. However this act
abolished Elizabethan Poor Law 1601. Furthermore according to the analysis of United Kingdom
historical healthcare system it has been identified that, Working Tax credit 2003 was established
by the labour government. Main aim behind it is this to offer benefit to working family. However
this act replaces disability working allowance. In addition to this it has been underlined that,
Public Health act 1848 was mainly responsible for drainage and water suppl. This act challenges
the concept of Laissez – faire. Thus as per the analysis in identify that in United Kingdom health
care system there was significantly change and reforms in Healthcare policies that strengthens
this country health care system.
Section C: Predict the future health of population in United Kingdom using relevant health
indicators
United Kingdom Healthcare indicators states that there is significant increase in progress towards
accomplishing SDG 3 targets. According to the analysis it has been determined that there were
significant improvement has been made by this country with the help of many taxation and
national insurance contribution (Countdown, 2018). In addition to this it has been identified that
this country health care system was strongly develop with the help of increase in healthcare
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expenditure by government in the form of compulsory spending. According to analysis it has
been identified that the overall number of physicians practicing in the United Kingdom also
increased quality of care having experienced by patients in an effective manner. However due to
the issues that has been faced by NHS due to funding problems there were many challenges
being faced by patients.
Figure 2Healthcare and social spending in UK and comparator countries, 2017 and change
from 2010
Source: https://www.bmj.com/content/367/bmj.l6326
However this has been overcome with the help of many funding policies. Along with this it has
been identified that NHS make significant contribution in many years that enhanced
effectiveness of Healthcare system of United Kingdom. It has been identified that SDG target of
United Kingdom by 2030 is to make reduction of 1/3 rd premature mortality from non
communicable disease via treatment and prevention and promotion of mental wellbeing and
health care (Hutton and Varughese, 2016). It has been identified that will the help of significant
step and policies being implement by United Kingdom the country is significantly moving
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towards accomplishing their targets in an effective manner. Along with this, it has been
evaluated that after 2009 health care system of United Kingdom significantly grow at faster rate
as compared to other countries (Crook, 2016). With the help of highest level of Healthcare
expenditure health care system how this country has been significantly developed.
CONCLUSION
According to the above mentioned analysis it has been identified that United Kingdom
healthcare system have gone through many challenges and issues. These challenges for
significantly overcome with the help of implementation of effective policies, measures and new
law has been enacted. There were number of non communicable, communicable and other form
of diseases that affected individual or social groups in this country. It has been determined that
there were many reasons due to transmission of these diseases, this get further overcome with the
help of many strategies and healthcare policies that significantly improves country health care
system in a well defined and effective manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Rosen, G., 2015. A history of public health. Jhu Press.
Porter, D., 2020. The history of public health and the modern state. BRILL.
Murray, C.R.G. and Wincott, D., 2020. Partition by degrees: Routine exceptions in border and
immigration practice between the UK and Ireland, 1921–1972. Journal of Law and
Society, 47, pp.S145-S163.
Shears, P., 2014. Product placement: The UK and the new rules. Journal of Promotion
Management, 20(1), pp.59-81.
Stephenson, J and et., 2018. Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception
period and its importance for future health. The Lancet, 391(10132), pp.1830-1841.
Countdown, N.C.D., 2018. NCD Countdown 2030: worldwide trends in non-communicable
disease mortality and progress towards Sustainable Development Goal target 3.4. Lancet
(London, England), 392(10152), pp.1072-1088.
Hutton, G. and Varughese, M., 2016. The costs of meeting the 2030 sustainable development
goal targets on drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. The World Bank.
Crook, T., 2016. Governing Systems: Modernity and the Making of Public Health in England,
1830–1910 (Vol. 11). Univ of California Press.
Harris, B. and Hinde, A., 2019. Sanitary investment and the decline of urban mortality in
England and Wales, 1817–1914. The History of the Family, 24(2), pp.339-376.
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