NHS Structure
The National Health Service (NHS) offers a range of services throughout primary and community healthcare, intermediate care and hospital-based care. It also provides information services and support to individuals in relation to health promotion, disease prevention, self-care, rehabilitation and after-care, (DoH, 2009).
The NHS is divided into two sections: primary and secondary care. Primary care is the first point of contact for most people when they first have a health problem. This may involve consulting a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or optician. NHS walk-in centres and the NHS Direct telephone service also comes under primary care (DoH, 2009). Secondary care - known as acute healthcare, can be elective care or emergency care (DoH, 2009).
Guidelines and Policies
All members of health care providing services, must work within and adhere to, guidelines set out by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and fulfil the requirements of the National Service Frameworks (NSFs).
NICE, an independent organisation, makes recommendations to the NHS, local authorities and other organisations in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors, on how to improve people's health and prevent illness and disease. It provides guidance regarding new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures, and treating and caring for people with specific diseases and conditions (NICE, 2011).
National Service Frameworks and strategies are policies set by the NHS, that define clear quality and standard requirements for the care specific patient groups and diseases. Strategies are developed in partnership with health professionals, patients, families, carers and other agencies to be truly inclusive, and are based on the best available evidence of what treatments and services work most effectively (DoH, 2010).
Clinical Governance frameworks aim to preserve high standards of care, by ensuring national and local policies, protocols guidelines and...