The National Health Service (NHS)

The National Health Service (NHS) was set up in the UK after the Second World War, in 1948. We pay for it out of our income tax and charges for prescriptions so that it is ‘free’ at the point of delivery, no matter how many times we use it. Everyone resident in the UK will have had some medical aid from the NHS at some point in their lives, as it covers doctors, nurses, hospitals, paramedics, pharmacists, opticians and dentists.

Unfortunately, over the years the public has been encouraged to seek advice from their NHS doctor at every symptom and there are now huge waiting lists, not only for hospital treatments but for simple GP appointments. Every Government ploughs more money into the NHS, as they believe this is a vote-winner, but this does not seem to produce a better service, merely more management and more tick-boxes.

“NHS reform” has become a common phrase but it remains to be seen how a behemoth that is beloved by most Britons can yield up to any change. Nevertheless it may come with new medical technological opportunities in the future. Let’s hope so!

(Image: Jaggery at geograph.org.uk / CC BY-SA 2.0)