Codes of Practice in Health Care

Codes of practice help classify the quality of care clients can expect if they receive care services and they can be used as a source for measuring the quality of care provided. All care professions have code of practice, some codes of practice mainly give advice and guidance, whereas others can be used to measure the quality of care.

A policy is different to a code of practice, as it is set in a particular care setting in a particular place. A code of practice for nursery nurses will be relevant to all nursery nurses working in any care setting. If a nursery nurse works in a nursery, the policy which tells her how to cope with particular circumstances in that pacific nursery may be different to another nursery. Each care setting has its own policies, according on its specific needs and circumstances.

Charters are slightly different, they are like codes of practices but they are created by the government which outlines the standards people can expect from a wide range of services. The charters contain information about the services and gives advice about how we can seek redress if a service does not fulfil all the stipulated standards.

Many GPs produce practice charters that offer information about that standard of service delivered by their particular health centres. Information which most probably be covered is time schedule, collection of test results, how to get proscribed medication, facilities available to disabled people and further treatment.

Profession care workers are trained to apply the values of care in their work. They are also helped in this, because they are expected to follow a code of practice.

The Codes of Practice is issues to all registered nurses, midwives and health visitors. The Council i...

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...Long Term Care Charter website)

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU – we want the NHS to be a high-quality health service. These are our aims as set out in the NHS Plan.

The NHS will provide a universal service for all based on clinical need, not ability to pay.

The NHS will provide a comprehensive range or services.

The NHS will shape its service around the needs and preferences of individual patients, their families and their carers.

The NHS will respond to different needs of different populations.

The NHS will work continuously together with each others to ensure a seamless service for patients.

The NHS will help keep people healthy and work to reduce health inequalities.

The NHS will respect the confidentiality of individual patients and provide open access to information about services, treatment and performance.

(Referred to the NHS website)