A Quick Guide to Health Terminology August 2011
Health Terminology This quick guide provides an a-z of common health terminology. Asset-Based Working - a form of working whereby assets within communities are identified and then used as a tool for unlocking potential and developing solutions to tackling health inequalities. Assets can include established social networks, skill-sets or community facilities. Clinical Commissioning Groups - groups of GP representatives and other clinical professionals who will be responsible for commissioning healthcare across a range of clinical services: including hospital services; community health services; rehabilitation; services for older people, as well those with learning disabilities; and mental health conditions. Clinical Commissioning Groups will be responsible for the vast majority of the health care budget and will be able to buy in support and commission the services of external organisations including private and voluntary bodies. They will be expected to contribute to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (see below) and to strategies developed by Health and Wellbeing Boards (see below). In conjunction with local authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups may also commission health improvement services in relation to public health areas such as obesity, smoking, alcohol and substance misuse. Clinical Senates - advisory bodies to be made up of clinical experts who will advise the NHS Commissioning Board on the clinical effectiveness of major service change. They will also have a formal role in authorising Clinical Commissioning Groups. Clinical Commissioning Groups will be expected to follow clinical senate advice. Page 1
Director of Public Health - jointly accountable to Public Health England (see below), directors of public health will bring leadership and direction to local collaborative discussions about the best use of the local ring-fenced public health budget. There will be a director of public health for each upper tier local authority. Health Champions - individuals who volunteer to help people in their communities and workplaces lead healthier lifestyles and access services. Health Equity - the study of differences in the quality of health and health care across different populations and socioeconomic groups. Differences may include the presence of disease, health outcomes and access to health care. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - evaluates how proposals for changes and developments to services will (or could) potentially affect people s health. It then makes recommendations to the relevant decision-makers. Healthy Living Pharmacies - started in Portsmouth, now leading on taking the public health revolution to the high street in an effort to promote health and wellbeing. Evidence published to date demonstrates that these pharmacies have smashed targets around smoking cessation, the reduction of alcohol consumption and other healthy living initiatives, delivering clear clinical and patient related outcomes. Page 2
Health Terminology Health Literacy - an individual s ability to read, understand and use healthcare information and services to better manage any illnesses. This includes reading, writing and numeracy skills as well as speaking and listening abilities. Furthermore, it also includes the skills required to navigate through complex health systems as well as the kind of empowerment skills needed to access services more appropriately. Further information can be found in the Health Literacy Quick Guide. Health Premium - an incentive payment that is to be received by local authorities. Payment will be dependent on the progress made against improving the health of the local population and reducing health inequalities. Health Needs Assessment (HNA) - a method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to a set of agreed priorities and the allocation of resources to improve health and tackle inequalities. HNAs also provide an opportunity for specific populations to contribute to service planning and resource allocation. HNAs are also a tool used in the commissioning process. HealthWatch - effective from April 2012, HealthWatch will be an independent national body with the power to monitor the NHS and to refer patients concerns to a wide range of authorities. HealthWatch will be funded by and accountable to local authorities and will have a seat on Health and Wellbeing Boards. Page 3
Health and Wellbeing Boards - responsible under the new health care reform proposals for developing a shared view about community needs and ensuring that all partners deliver their organisation s contribution to health and wellbeing. In addition, Health and Wellbeing Boards will take a lead role in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (see below); promote and support joined up commissioning across NHS social care and public health; support pooled budget arrangements with other agencies such as Clinical Commissioning Groups; and undertake a scrutiny role with respect to major service redesign. Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) - a process which attempts to cover more than one type of impact assessment in a single process. IIAs are widely considered to be the most efficient way of ensuring health is included within policies, programmes and projects. Most commonly, IIAs combine an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a Health Impact Assessment (HIA). Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) - establishes an understanding of the health and wellbeing needs of a local community in order to prioritise action. Typically, JSNAs are used by local authorities and NHS services. They are a continuous process and they support a shift towards preventative services. Recently there has been growing interest in enhancing JSNAs through an asset-based approach to mapping, which focuses on building upon community skills and capacity (see above asset based working). Page 4
Health Terminology Population Health - an approach that aims to improve the health of the entire population and tackle health inequalities between different groups in society. Rather than focusing on individuals, population health addresses a broad range of factors that affect the health of entire populations, such as environment, social structure, and the distribution of resources. Public Health - the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organised efforts of society. These organised efforts involve public health professionals as well as councillors, local government officers, community organisations, employers and communities themselves. Public Health Data - currently compiled by local primary care trusts (PCTs) and public health observatories to provide data and analysis of the main causes of death and ill health within a given area. Locality profiles are compiled on a district and electoral ward basis and provide data about the population, deprivation levels, housing, take up of benefits, health, crime and disorder. These profiles provide a comparison at local, regional and national level against key indicators for health. It is envisaged that these functions will be integrated within the JSNA. Public Health England (PHE) - a dedicated and professional public health service that will sit within the Department of Health. PHE will bring together all health protection functions including emergency planning, public health and health improvement functions. It will allocate ring-fenced funding to local government and will reward it for progress made against the proposed health outcomes framework. In addition, it will - in conjunction with the local authority - appoint directors of public health. Page 5
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing - a recent report by the New Economics Foundation linking wellbeing to a range of social factors. The report also proposes a set of actions which can improve personal wellbeing. Wellbeing, or Wellness - a range of positive emotions and an ability to function effectively, commonly defined as feeling good. Wellbeing is often referred to alongside health to emphasise the benefits that flow from achieving good physical, emotional and mental health. As such, improving peoples health is not just about dealing with ill-health and health problems, it is also about working to create the conditions for health and wellbeing to thrive. This, in turn, can help to prevent or reduce premature deaths, ill-health, and the social and economic costs this brings. Useful Links Association of Public Health Observatories: General practice profiles www.apho.org.uk/pracprof/ Health Literacy: Evidence base for health literacy www.healthliteracy.org.uk Lancashire JSNA: Joint Strategic Needs Assessments www.lancashire.gov.uk/jsna World Health Organisation: European region, healthy cities, public health www.euro.who.int/ Year of Health and Wellbeing: 5 ways to wellbeing www.yearofhealthandwellbeing.org.uk Page 6
Talk to us For general enquiries about this Quick Guide or for more information on North West Employers : Tom Goodwin E: tomg@nwemployers.org.uk T: 0161 241 7110 For more information on the work going on in Central Lancashire : Gulab Singh Assistant Director Healthy Communities & Preston Healthy City Coordinator, NHS Central Lancashire E: Gulab.singh@centrallancashire.nhs.uk T: 01772 678 004 Talk to each other Register and start using the regions new virtual communication platform North West Connex - www.nwemployers.org.uk/northwestconnex/ Guides in this series: A Councillors Role in Public Health Health Terminology Workplace Health Local Goverment Terminology Health Inequalities Health Literacy Health Reform