Public providers are funded by the government, through taxation.
The National Health Service (NHS) is a key example of a public health and social care provider in the UK.
Public providers offer a wide variety of services, from doctor’s appointments to mental health services.
These services are available to all UK residents free at the point of use.
However, some services such as prescriptions and dental care may incur a small charge.

Private providers are run by businesses or individuals and funded by patients, insurance payments, or in some cases, through contracts with the NHS.
These providers can offer many of the same services as public providers, but potentially with quicker access or greater choice.
However, the quality and availability of services via private providers can vary greatly.
For some, the cost of private care can be prohibitive.
Private providers include nursing homes, private hospitals and some domiciliary care providers.

Non-profit providers are organisations that do not profit from their services but instead any income they generate is reinvested into the service they provide.
These providers may rely on funding from donations, grants, or service charges.
Non-profit providers can include community organisations and charities.
They often provide niche or targeted services, such as support for individuals with specific conditions, or advocacy services.
Non-profit providers may also offer services to support gaps not filled by public and private providers.
Examples of non-profit health and social care providers include Age UK, Mind, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Providers Community and Service Users

Both public, private, and non-profit providers can play a crucial role in meeting the diverse health and social needs within a community.
These providers are regulated by authorities such as Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England who monitor, inspect and regulate services to ensure they meet the necessary standards.
All providers offer ways for service users to feedback on their experiences, through complaints procedures, satisfaction surveys, or informal feedback methods.
The use of different providers, may involve a social worker or care coordinator helping to bring together an individual’s care across different provider types.

Public, Private, and Non-profit Health and Social Care Providers