Report on the NHS Cardiology Provision - Assignment Example

Increased in health care cost 8 4.0 Recommendations 8 5.0 Conclusion 8 6.0 References List 10 1. Introduction The National Health Service (NHS) ensures accessibility of care regardless of wealth. Its core principles involve care that meets the needs of everyone, care that is free at point of delivery and care based on clinical need (NHS, 2011, n.p.). NHS cardiology provision offers cardiac care and rehabilitation that is accessible, affordable, and disease-focused among patients suffering from cardiac diseases or disorders such as congenital heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, dysrhythmias, and even heart failure.

NHS also entails seven (7) key principles that will guide patient rights to health services offered, which include: provision of a comprehensive service irrespective all biases, access based on clinical need and not on the ability to pay, aspiration of the highest standards of excellence and professionalism, reflection of patients, families and caretakers needs, partnership and collaboration with other organisations to promote the best interest of patients and greater population, provision of effective, fair, and sustainable resources using taxpayers’ money, and accountability to the patient, public and community (NHS, 2011, n.p.). . This report aims to identify the present status of NHS cardiology provision in UK and its impact on the population and health care sector.

Focus will be given on the good aspects of cardiology provision such as decline of CHD, growth of cardiology workforce, as well as advancement in cardiology research and interventions. The bad aspects would likewise be determined and recommendations to address and improve the system would be proffered. 2. Positive Aspects of Cardiology Provision Despite variations in the cardiology provision of the National Health Service (NHS), a number of positive aspects had been noted, to wit: decline of age-adjusted congenital heart disease (CHD) mortality, growth of United Kingdom (UK) cardiology workforce, and advancement in scientific research involving cardiology treatments, devices, and interventions (Boon et al. 2006, p. 873-877). 2.1.

Decline of age-adjusted CHD mortality. Survey report from Mindell et al. (2003)found out that the NHS-funded age-standardised revascularisation rates varied from 95.2 to 193.9 per 100, 000 (NHS standard is 131.9); thus, cardiology provision reflected no significant difference in terms of age distribution (p. 2). In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, approximately 299, 000 patients were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, revascularisation, and other cardiac diseases (Beswick et al. 2004, p. 2).

It can be gleaned from the data presented that cardiology provision was an emerging need; regardless of age or UK nation. With the establishment of the NHS system, the rates of mortality from CHD declined. Data from the 1999-2003 survey of the British Heart Foundation