The Care Pathway - Introduction

A ‘care pathway’ is a term that describes a route or path through services from the primary level where a person has low levels of need, through care provided by mainstream services. Secondary specialist services meet the needs of users with more intensive or complex levels of need and for those who need inpatient psychiatric or long term tertiary level services are in place.

This pathway model is outlined in the National Service Framework for Older People mentioned above (Department of Health, 2001).

Most of the remainder of this learning object uses the virtual care pathway as a vehicle for presenting material on services. You are invited to ‘walk’ along the path and stop off at various points and stages to learn about health and social care services. It is important to note this is an ideal and is only a way to present a much messier reality – in real life paths rarely run straight or smooth!

  1. Primary care
  2. Assessment
  3. Mainstream Care
  4. Secondary care/Specialist Services
  5. Carers
  6. Tertiary Care