Operating Department Practice (ODP): Health Reports and Policies
This guide contains resources, help and support from the library for Operating Department Practice
Health guidelines are evidence based recommendations for the treatment and care of people by health professionals.
A health policy “defines health goals at the international, national or local level and specifies the decisions, plans and actions to be undertaken to achieve these goals” (World Health Organisation, 2021).
There are multiple sources where health policies can be found. Within the UK these include (but are not limited to):
- Government departments including, Department of Health and Social Care, Office of Health Security, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department for Leveling up, Housing and Communities
- NHS Websites and Local trusts.
- Local Government and City Council websites
- International bodies such as the WHO, UNICEF, EU council
- Charitable organisations such as the Nuffield Trust, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Kings Fund
International policies may be discovered on equivalent bodies within individual countries.
Below are links to a range of health policy sources to get you started. These include: government and NHS sources, professional bodies and other organisations, local sources, and international sources.
Government and NHS Sources
- Department of HealthUK Government site offering statutory guidance and policies covering health initiatives.
- Every Child MattersThe full text of the Green Paper.
- The New National Health Service original reportOriginal leaflet from 1948 outlining the original NHS
- NHS EnglandNHS England leads the National Health Service (NHS) in England
- NHS Wales e-library for healthProvides access to policy and guidelines covering the principality of Wales
- UK Health Security AgencyUK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.
- GOV.UKOfficial United Kingdom government website
- Care Quality CommissionThe Care Quality Commission are the independent regulator of health and social care in England
Professional Bodies and Other Organisations
- British Medical AssociationThe British Medical Association (BMA) is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK.
- College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP)The professional body for Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs)
- Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)HCPC is a high performing regulator which delivers forward-looking regulation underpinned by strong data, collaboration and compassion
- The Health FoundationAn independent charitable organisation working to make a healthier Britain
- Institute of Health and Social Care ManagementInstitute of Health and Social Care Management support the creation of a forward-thinking community that are passionate about Health and Social Care.
- Joseph Rowntree FoundationA charitable foundation providing access to resources and research around health and education policy.
- Kings FundThe King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and health care in England.
- Nuffield TrustThe Nuffield Trust is an independent health think tank. They aim to improve the quality of health care in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)The independent regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK, and nursing associates in England.
- Policy CommonsMillions of reports from think tanks, agencies, and cities
- Royal College of AnaesthetistsThe Royal College of Anaesthetists is the professional body responsible for the specialty throughout the UK
- Royal College of NursingThe world's largest nursing union and professional body. With a membership
comprising nurses, midwives, nursing support workers and students working together to advance their professions. - Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandThe Royal College of Surgeons of England provides education, assessment and development to surgeons, dental professionals and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their career.
- RSPH Allied Health Professionals HubResources to support all UK AHPs to protect and improve public health
Local Sources
- Birmingham City CouncilRegional Council
- Birmingham City ObservatoryAn organisation dedicated to providing a ‘single source of the truth’ about Birmingham, and to support collaboration and innovation around data with a wide range of partners across and beyond our city.
- Public Health SpotlightThe representative body for Directors of Public Health (DsPH) in the UK.
International Sources
- Africa Health Policy NetworkAn organisation devoted to working with and for adults of African descent and Black communities, LGBTQ+, refugees and asylum seekers and disabled people with long term health conditions. Their mission is to address inequalities for these communities.
- Africa Union CommissionThe African Union (AU) is a continental organization consisting of 55 member states in Africa. It's aim is to promote unity, co-operation and development across Africa.
- The DHS ProgramDemographic and Health Surveys published by the DHS Program and USAID. Collects, analyses and disseminates data and reports about population, health, HIV, and nutrition on over 90 countries.
- European CouncilAn organisation devoted to improve public health across The EU through policy, legislation and interventions.
- Global Health Expenditures DatabaseProvides internationally comparable numbers on national health expenditures. 1995+
- Global Health Observatory (formerly WHOSIS)Guide to health and health-related epidemiological and statistical information available from the World Health Organization.
- Global Public HealthA journal specialising in publishing research into public health, health access and global health policies, development, inequalities and management.
- OECD Health DataExamines national health systems from 1960 forward for OECD member countries in a general, demographic, economic, and social context.
- Pan American Health Association (PAHO)Pan American Health Association (PAHO) - Covers North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Publications and data on a wide range of topics.
- Roper CenterHealth Poll Database Provides health-related U.S. survey results, covering eighty years of national polling. Searchable questions and results, demographic crosstabs, and trends are available on every topic related to health, from social determinants and influences on health to insurance, costs, health-care utilization and COVID.
- UNICEFUNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged and those hardest to reach.
- World bank Open Knowledge RepositoryThe World Bank is the largest single source of knowledge relating to developments across the world The World Bank Open Knowledge Repository (OKR) is The World Bank’s official open access repository for its research outputs and knowledge products.
- World Development IndicatorsIncludes annual economic, social, educational, environmental and health data from many of the World Bank's major statistical publications. 1960+
- World Health Organisation (WHO)World Health Organisation site offering guidelines and policy that makes recommendations for clinical practice and public health policy across the world.
- World Health StatisticsPublication from the World Health Organization (WHO).