Topic 3 – An Evaluation of private care provision for service users with physical disabilities and illnesses.

CCEA GCE A2 UNIT 3 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

What is private healthcare?

The Private or independent sector provides medical treatment in the UK. They are separate from the Nation Health Services (NHS) but work closely in partnership with them. You can pay private medical treatment yourself, claim through medical insurance or a workplace health scheme

Examples of Private care provision?

• GP services

• Physiotherapy

• Counselling

• Domiciliary care

• Nursing and Residential care

• Specialist consultant care

• specialist surgeries

Examples of pribvate healthcare in northern ireland?

• Kingsbridge

• Ulster independent clinic

• Glen caring

Advantages of Private care

• Greater choices for service users in a variety of different geographical areas. Pick hat best suits them

• Raise in standards of care as they are businesses in competition with other private providers in their area e.g. physiotherapists

• Avoid long waiting lists in NHS, as booking privately is quicker. Receive diagnosis/treatment faster

• flexibility with appointment times e.g. evening or weekend appointments

• Very specialist care and advanced technology as have the income to keep up to date with best equipment etc

• Closely regulated so continuously provide high standards of care.

Disadvantages of private care?

• Operate for profit, low ratio of staff to patient/residents which may negatively impact quality of care

• Some may not be as well regulated as the statutory sector e.g. complementary therapist, counselling services.

• Inequality as very expensive, low income families may not be able to avail so no choice but to wait in NHS lists.

• Potential exploitation leaves SUs vulnerable to debt e.g. within residential care

• Can be unreliable as can pull treatments or services if they are not profitable