The Implication of the New Policy on Nursing - Term Paper Example

Policy Document Analysis - Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: Making It Happen - Total Number of Words: 2,002 Table of Contents I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………… 3 II. Nature and Purpose of the Reformation ………………………………… 3 III. The Goal of Different Health Related Policies …………………………. 4 a. “Independence, Well-being and Choice” ……………………… 4 b. “A New Direction for Community Services” ………………….. 5 c. “Investing in the Future of the Community Hospitals and Services” …………………………………………………… 5 IV. Policy Making Process and its Link ……..……………………………… 6 V. Goal of Reformation ……………………………………………………. 6 VI. Multi-agency Teamwork ……………………………………………….. 6 VII. Impact of the New Policy on Public Health ……………………………. 7 VIII. The Policy Implications on Nursing …………………………………….. 8 IX. Nursing Contribution to Public Health ………………………………….. 8 X. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………….. 9 References ………………………………………………………………………… 10 Introduction For many years, health and social care services in Britain has been facing challenges with regards to under-investment on medical care facilities, widening gap between the rich and the poor in terms of receiving care, a long waiting lists at the hospitals because of a shortage on health care staff, and unresponsive services. (NHS, 2006a; p. 3) For this reason, a continuous reformation of the health and social care is necessary in order to preserve and upgrade the high quality health care services for the people. Recently, the British government together with the Department of Health (DOH) implemented a new reformation strategy on health and social care system. This includes ‘Independence, Well-being and Choice;’ ‘A New Direction for Community Services;’ and ‘Investing in the Future of the Community Hospitals and Services.’ As part of the study, this paper will discuss about the nature and purpose of the reformation, goal of reformation, the goal of different health related policies, policy-making process and its link, as well as the impact of the new policy on public health. On the part of the nurses, this study will discuss the implication of the new policy on nursing, how it could affect a multi-agency teamwork, and the nursing contribution to public health. Nature and Purpose of the Reformation Implementation of the new reform gives importance to community health and social care services that will meet the future demographic challenges such as: health prevention, empowering the people over the access of health care services, improve community care service and lessen inequalities of services, support the long-term health care needs of the people, help maintain a good health and avoid disease and poor health among the local citizens. (NHS, 2006a; p. 7 – 8; NHS, 2006a; Ch. 1, p. 16) The purpose of this new reform is to align the whole social and health care system in accordance to the present needs of our society. (NHS, 2006a; Ch. 1, p. 16) Department of Health (DOH) believes that enabling our people to have a strong control over their own health and care is more effective in terms of uplifting their own health and ‘well-being’. (NHS, 2006a; Ch. 1, p. 13) The British government together with the DOH has decided that the best way to a rapid and more convenient access to a high-quality and cost-effective care is feasible by improving of the community health care system. Aiming to solve the inequalities in the delivery of health care, the new reform will promote a fair treatment and respect to all people will be observed. (NHS, 2006a; Ch. 1, p. 16) The Goal of Different Health Related Policies “Independence, Well-being and Choice” In developing a policy, it is important to consider the major concerns of the public with regards to the existing health care system. Aiming to empower the people and improve the quality services of social health care, the Green Paper on the Future of Adult Social Care was published by the Department of Health back in March 2005. (Gillham and O’Rourke, 2005) ‘Independence, Well-being and Choice’ has been specially designed for the adult social care. (NHS, 2006a; Ch. 1, p. 18) This policy aims to support the patients by giving them the power and the option to manage their own actions. Risk transparency enables them to have a fair appraisal on their decision-making. Since people perceive risk on different point-of-views, it is necessary to develop a common set of principles that people can use. (DOH, 2007; p. 3) To ensure the quality of social care services, Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) was established back in April 2004. It aims to combine the existing regulations, assess the health care performances, inspect and review the integrated view for social care. (CSCI, 2005; p. 2) “A New Direction for Community Services” ‘A New Direction for Community Services’ is designed for the future goals of primary, community, and social care services. This policy aims to reduce health inequalities and extend a better support to people who are in need of long-term care. The local people are more concern of the availability and affordability of health care services within their reach. In line with the growing concerns of the local people, the government decided to develop primary and community health care hospitals. To make this policy work, the government and the DOH should deal with the head of the community and its people. This will enable them to get the support of the community leaders and the people. Therefore, implementation of this new programme will be more successful. In the past, the government’s financial support was focused on the tertiary care hospitals. The unbalance financial support on the primary care system resulted to depreciation of its facilities and quality service. Since the new policy concentrates on the development of community hospitals and the promotion of health prevention, the role of the nurses will also be altered in accordance to the objectives of the new policy and the needs of the people. “Investing in the Future of the Community Hospitals and Services” ‘Investing in the Future of the Community Hospitals and Services’ is about increasing the investment on community hospitals infrastructures and improving its health care services by adding more competent health care practitioners to extend their services at the community level and purchasing more high technology equipments that are needed for the hospitals. This is the next step towards making the policy: ‘A New Direction for Community Services’ work. Policy Making Process and Its Link There is a direct link between ‘A New Direction for Community Services’ and ‘Investing in the Future of the Community Hospitals and Services.’ The first policy serves as the foundation for the future plans of community health care services. It defines a concrete reasoning behind the need to focus on developing the community-base health and social services. The second policy is a further step; a future strategy in making the new direction work effectively. The second policy empowers the people to have a readily accessible health care services. Since the policy seeks to pay more attention on the deprived areas, improvement of community care service in isolated place becomes possible. Thus, lessening the inequalities and gap on the national health care services. The policy also supports the long-term health care needs of the people. Goal of Reformation The goal of reformation includes: better health prevention services through early interventions, empowering the people over the access to social and primary care unit, improving the access to community services in order to lessen the inequalities on the health care delivery system, and extending support to people with long-term health care needs. (NHS, 2006a; p. 7 – 8) Multi-agency Teamwork The new policy encourages a multi-agency teamwork. The general practices that lead the PBC works together with the nurses, allied health professionals and the pharmacists in the process of gathering information and feedback from the patients. (NHS, 2006b; Sec. 1, p. 9 – 11) This strategy improves the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery services to the patients. Teamwork among the professional health care providers, support staff, and the local people are highly encouraged and recommended. Through teamwork with the people, the health care professionals will know more and focus more on the patients’ individual needs. (DOH, 2002a) Impact of the New Policy on Public Health The new policy is more effective and beneficial to the public health since the practice based commissioning (PBC) will promote the development of locally based community health services in response to the needs of the people. (NHS, 2006b; Sec. 1, p. 11) The new policy encourages frontline clinicians to redesign a new system and processes for the community hospitals in a more efficient way. (NHS, 2006b; Sec. 1, p. 11) Adding more community services provisions gives the patients more options to choose from. More services are feasible because of the presence of a more diverse health care providers. Health care professionals from private and third sectors including the NHS social enterprises could create a bigger service capacity. The combined idea and strategies coming from the community health providers will serve as a better solution in enabling a more efficient and systematic way of accommodating the patients. Time saved from rendering health care services to each patient will be used in providing health promotional activities within each locality. (DOH, 2000) Also, the payment by result (PbR) scheme will enable the PCTs to improve and develop the facilities and services of community hospitals. This mode of payment is designed to keep medical services affordable to the people. Specifically the Expert Patient Programme (EPP) is more favorable to patients with a long-term health conditions because of its cheaper cost. (NHS, 2006b; Sec. 1, p. 11 – 12) The Policy Implications on Nursing The new policy encourages all the nurses to participate in the delivery of health promotion within the community setting. Innovation and changes on the role and responsibilities of the nurses, midwives, and health visitors in the primary care will be implemented. According to the Department of Health (DOH), liberating the talents and skills of the health workers is necessary to ensure that each patient will receive the appropriate and right care at the right place and time. (DOH, 2002b) Nursing Contribution to Public Health Nursing contribution to the public health will increase along with the new health policy. Basically, there are three core functions on primary care nurses. (DOH, 2002a; p. 8) Upon the first contact with the patient, nurses are expected to conduct physical assessment and diagnosis. Depending on the health condition of the patient, nurses will provide care and treatment on each patient. In case of a need for specialized health care practitioners, nurses are expected to make referrals. The second function is to conduct a continuing care. The role of nurses does not stop upon providing them with initial care. Nurses also need to make sure that signs and symptoms of the disease are gone. Therefore, nurses need to make future appointment with the patients. Patients may also need to go through rehabilitation or a chronic disease management. The last function is to conduct the needed health protection and promotion programmes in order to continuously improve the health of the people. Conducting a group health promotion reduces health inequalities. It will even make them more conscious about their own health. Other changes and expectations in the role of primary care nurses includes: provision of care services wherein the patients and the public will have a freedom of choice and voice; a role in delivering 24-hour first contact care across a wide range of health care settings; opportunities to provide more secondary care within the community settings; a wider scope on the rights to make a decision; focusing more on prevention as well as tackling the inequalities in the health care services; an extended role with regards to some work that is currently done by the GPs; and a major role in the delivery of the National Service Frameworks. (DOH, 2002a; p. 6) In the absence of the competent nurses, it will be very difficult to extend the necessary health care services such as health promotions to each individual in the community. For this reason, nurses play a significant role in making the future plans of the government and the Department of Health to become successful. Conclusion Reformation of the health care system is necessary to meet the general concerns of the public regarding the availability, accessibility, and affordability of health care services. ‘Independence, Well-being and Choice’ aims to improve the adult social services by providing the people with general guidelines to be used in dealing with health related risk management. On the other hand, ‘A New Direction for Community Services’ and ‘Investing in the Future of the Community Hospitals and Services’ are interrelated set of provisions aiming to promote and develop the community health care hospitals and services. Altering the role and responsibility of nurses is necessary to meet the demands of the new policy. Therefore, nurses play a significant role in making this programme successful. *** End *** References: 1 CSCI (2005) ‘Green Paper on the Future of Social Care for Adults in England’ The Commission for Social Inspection. July 2005 2 DOH (2000) ‘The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment, A Plan for Reform’ Department of Health. July 2000. 3 DOH (2002a) ‘Liberating the Talents: Helping Primary Care Trusts and Nurses to Deliver the NHS Plan’ Department of Health. pp. 1 – 38. 4 DOH (2002b) ‘Delivering the NHS Plan’ Department of Health. pp. 34. 5 DOH (2007) ‘Independence, Choice and Risk: A Guide to Best Practice in Supported Decision Making’ May 21, 2007. pp. 1 – 63. 6 Gillham, T. and O’Rourke, G. (2005) ‘Independence, Well Being and Choice’ Somerset County Council – Executive Board. Item No. 9. 7 NHS (2006a) ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services’ Health and Social Care Working together in Partnership. Department of Health. pp. 1 – 227. 8 NHS (2006b) ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Community: Investing in the Future Community Hospitals and Services’ Health and Social Care Working together in Partnership. Department of Health. pp. 1 – 45. Read More