Differences between healthcare and social care in the welfare state
Health and social services in the United Kingdom, as in many other countries worldwide, provide a vast range of services for individuals that require continuing or ongoing health or personal care needs. However, there is a clear and distinct difference between the two, and this is in relation to government funding. NHS or the National Health Service is a government funded service and thus a patient that requires continuing health care will receive these services completely free of charge. Social care on the other hand is currently a means-tested service, and therefore an individual requiring social care may find that they have to pay partially or in full for these services. (British Geriatrics Society, 2004)
The difference in funding is a result of some poorly defined definitions of what exactly constitutes a health care service compared to that of social care. The definitions, as stated in the 'The National Framework for NHS-CHC-NHS-FNC-Nov-2012.pdf ' (Department of Health, 2012) document, which can be found on the Gov.uk website attempt to outline the differences between both care services; although the text itself proves to be ambiguous and contradictory:
"Whilst there is …show more content…
This became the underpinning argument for the Coughlan case.
Miss Coughlin was a quadriplegic that received care from 1971 to 1993 at Newcourt Hospital. However, Newcourt Hospital closed in 1993, and she was moved to a modern and capable facility - Mardon House - and was given an explicit promise to be provided a 'home for life '. (Law Teacher, 2014) It was this promise - and the recognition of legitimate expectation - that Coughlan 's case was hinged
Health and social services in the United Kingdom, as in many other countries worldwide, provide a vast range of services for individuals that require continuing or ongoing health or personal care needs. However, there is a clear and distinct difference between the two, and this is in relation to government funding. NHS or the National Health Service is a government funded service and thus a patient that requires continuing health care will receive these services completely free of charge. Social care on the other hand is currently a means-tested service, and therefore an individual requiring social care may find that they have to pay partially or in full for these services. (British Geriatrics Society, 2004)
The difference in funding is a result of some poorly defined definitions of what exactly constitutes a health care service compared to that of social care. The definitions, as stated in the 'The National Framework for NHS-CHC-NHS-FNC-Nov-2012.pdf ' (Department of Health, 2012) document, which can be found on the Gov.uk website attempt to outline the differences between both care services; although the text itself proves to be ambiguous and contradictory:
"Whilst there is …show more content…
This became the underpinning argument for the Coughlan case.
Miss Coughlin was a quadriplegic that received care from 1971 to 1993 at Newcourt Hospital. However, Newcourt Hospital closed in 1993, and she was moved to a modern and capable facility - Mardon House - and was given an explicit promise to be provided a 'home for life '. (Law Teacher, 2014) It was this promise - and the recognition of legitimate expectation - that Coughlan 's case was hinged