Patients Association
Encyclopedia
The Patients Association is a lobby group operating in the UK that aims to improve patients
' experience of health care
. It became a registered charity
in 1991. Its current campaigns include:
The Patients Association runs a helpline for patients and relatives on all non-clinical matters relating to the NHS or Private healthcare. In particular it can provide advice on the NHS complaints process, access to medical records, living wills and patients rights. Its number is 08456 08 44 55.
It receives most of its funding from individual and corporate membership, with its corporate members including various pharmaceutical, insurance, and private medical firms. It receives a smaller amount of funding through donations from patients, the public, and grant giving charitable organisations.
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
' experience of health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
. It became a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in 1991. Its current campaigns include:
- General practitionerGeneral practitionerA general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
(GP) services - Organ donationOrgan donationOrgan donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
- Care of older peopleOld ageOld age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
- Healthcare associated infectionsNosocomial infectionA nosocomial infection , also known as a hospital-acquired infection or HAI, is an infection whose development is favoured by a hospital environment, such as one acquired by a patient during a hospital visit or one developing among hospital staff...
- DentistryDentistryDentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
- Trust in medicinesMedicineMedicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
- Patients rightsRightRights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
- Mixed sexUnisexUnisex stands for the meaning that either gender or sex will be able to, but can also be another term for gender-blindness.The term was coined in the 1962 and was used fairly informally...
wards
The Patients Association runs a helpline for patients and relatives on all non-clinical matters relating to the NHS or Private healthcare. In particular it can provide advice on the NHS complaints process, access to medical records, living wills and patients rights. Its number is 08456 08 44 55.
It receives most of its funding from individual and corporate membership, with its corporate members including various pharmaceutical, insurance, and private medical firms. It receives a smaller amount of funding through donations from patients, the public, and grant giving charitable organisations.