Patient Services
Understanding UK Healthcare
The UK healthcare market is divided into public healthcare, the ‘independent’ sector, private healthcare, other healthcare services and palliative and hospice care.
Within public healthcare is the NHS, hospital and community health services and family health services. Private healthcare is covered by private medical insurance companies such as BUPA. Other health services cover complementary and alternative medicine which is referred to as CAM. The NHS trusts place a greater emphasis on acute conditions and mental health rather than chronic conditions. The emphasis of the family health service is on pharmaceutical products.
The ‘independent’ sector refers to the use of private companies to extend NHS care e.g. with CATS centres. Private healthcare contains the primary care providers of occupational health and private GP practices and is largely funded through private medical insurance.
Government policy is to encourage better self care and community based care for patients with long term conditions.
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