Health and Social Care: Health Reports and Policies
Health guidelines are evidence based recommendations for the treatment and care of people by health professionals. 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.
What is a health policy?
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
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.
- 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
- Birmingham City CouncilRegional Council
- 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 Organisation: World Health StatisticsWHO's annual World Health Statistics reports present the most recent health statistics for the WHO Member States