Introduction to the NHS england - Assignment Example

Introduction to NHS in England What it? The Health and Social Care is a public healthcare system funded through general taxation scheme. It was enacted in 2012 through an Act of Parliament of UK to provide wide-ranging reorganization of the National Health Service (NHS) in England (Health and Social Care Bill). The scheme covers all residents of the UK thus making it the largest single payer healthcare system across the global. The Act made several changes to the National Health Service (NHS) with significant change being empowerment of patients to give them voice in making decisions concerning their quality of healthcare services and increase patients’ choices of healthcare (The Health and Social Care Bill).

How does it work? The Act establishes various Commissioning Groups such as Health and Wellbeing Boards, NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor and Clinical Commissioning Groups, with responsibility to involve patients, the public and carers influencing patient services (The Health and Social Care Bill). The Commissioning Groups have to involve the public in through consultation on annual commissioning plans and other changes affecting their services. The Act establishes “HealthWatch England as the statutory committee of the Care Quality Commission” (The Health and Social Care Bill).

This body represents the views of the public to the Commissioning Groups and ensures they are included in decision-making. Why is it important? The change is essential because it will enable the public to make their contributions regarding the nature of healthcare services based on their experiences (The Health and Social Care Bill). This implies the decisions on social care services will be more inclusive of views from relevant stakeholders.What is the benefit? Involving patients in healthcare decisions will result in improvement of the quality of care and increase accessibility of the social care services to the public (The Health and Social Care Bill).

Reference ListThe Health and Social Care Bill, Greater voice for patients, Available at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/health /files/2012/02/B3-Greater-voice-for-patients1.pdf. Last Updated 15th February 2012.