The NHSReasons why?

Success?

NHS

• NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

When did it begin?

• England and Wales – National Health Service Act 1946

• Scotland – National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947

Why was it needed?

• Before the NHS, patients were required to pay for their health care.

• Free treatment was sometimes available from teaching hospitals or charity hospitals.

• Therefore the majority of people went without health care.

• The people who needed it the most (the poor) could not afford the care they needed.

• Life expectancy at birth in 1930 was only 52 for men and 59 for women, and the retirement age was 65.

• 1 in 20 babies in the 1930s died before their 1st birthday

The Birth of The NHS

• The founding principles of the NHS called for its funding out of general taxation and not through national insurance.

• Services would henceforth be provided by the same doctors and the same hospitals, but:

• services were provided free at the point of use; • services were financed from central taxation; • everyone was eligible for care (even people

temporarily resident or visiting the country).

What services did you get?• Primary Care – GPs,

Dentists, Opticians, Pharmacists.

• Community Services

Ambulances

Midwifes

Maternity Clinics

Health Education

Vaccinations

Cradle to the Grave

• This means the NHS would take care of you from the moment you were born to when you died.

Was it successful?

• It was the envy of the world at the time!• In the first year 187 million prescriptions, 8 500

000 dental treatments and 5 500 000 glasses were issued.

• 95% of the population used the service• Killer diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) have

been almost wiped out and people live longer• By 1970 - Men 68 years old

- Women 75 years old