The N.H.S.

The N.H.S. is considered one of the best healthcare systems in the world and has been providing medical care for the people of the United Kingdom for over 70 years. It is something that the British people are proud of. The N.H.S. provides free, high-quality medical care regardless of a person’s income or social status. “It” is now an integral part of British society.

And yet it can so easily be taken for granted!

The National Health Service (N.H.S.) was first proposed in 1942 by William Beveridge in his report “Social Insurance and Allied Services”. This was a time, just after World War Two, when Britain was ‘getting back on its feet’, and the government recognised the need for a ‘comprehensive healthcare system’ that would cater for the needs of the country. This report showed a plan for a ‘universal’ health system that was accessible to all, whatever they could pay.

The public got behind this and in 1945, the Labour Party (led by Clement Attlee) promised to implement these recommendations, which included the establishment of a national health service.

The National Health Service Act was passed on July 5th, 1948, and ‘the N.H.S. was born’.

At “Its” start, around 90% of doctors and 100% of dentists signed up to provide the new services under the new system. This brought together the existing healthcare systems such as hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies and dentists, all under the one ‘umbrella’ organization => the National Health Service.

The N.H.S. aimed to provide complete medical care to everyone regardless of their income or social status.

“It” was primarily funded by general taxation, and (for the first time) healthcare was available to everyone, regardless of their finances. The system is based on 3 care principles:

1) To meet everybody’s needs.

2) It is free at the point of delivery.

3) It is based on clinical need (rather than the ability to pay).

The N.H.S. was a revolutionary concept and other countries started to ‘copy’ it.

In its infancy, the N.H.S. had to face many challenges, which included a shortage of staff and resources. Overtime, more and more people started to rely on the N.H.S. and the system grew and grew.

In 1948, the N.H.S. had 480,000 hospital beds. By 1979, the number of hospital beds had nearly doubled to over 900,000. The ‘Services’ offered were also expanded to include mental health care and community services.

Over the years, the N.H.S. has grown and grown, and gone from strength to strength. In 1997, there was increased funding for the N.H.S. and there were improvements in technology and facilities. New systems were adopted, for example, electronic patient records and telemedicine.

A wide range of services is now provided, which include primary care, hospital care, mental health care, and community services. Free prescriptions are also offered to children, pregnant women, and people who have certain medical conditions. Free dental care is provided for children, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions.

In 2018, the N.H.S. celebrated 70 years of being in service.

Since 1948, the N.H.S. had proved “Itself” resilient and dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare to as many people as possible, and is now one of the most respected and admired healthcare systems in the world. “It” has saved the lives of generations and is certainly something to be appreciated and never taken for granted.

The National Health Service assures that no one is denied medical help, whatever their financial situation or their social status, which has literally been a matter of life or death in many cases.

“Its” ability to adapt to any health crisis, (the recent COVID-19 pandemic comes to mind), is a testament to the strength and importance of the N.H.S. really has in protecting the health of the nation.