HEALTHCARE IN BRITAIN

BY SAMARTH BHADORIA (141607)

HIMANSHU CHANDEL(141610)
AKSHAYA KUMAR(141633)
NIKKHIL OBLAPUR(141643)
ANCHAL RAWAT(141655)

Origin of National Health Service (NHS)

1940s: The British government felt that it was their

responsibility to look after the citizens

1942: The Beveridge Report
Recommended that the government put an end to

poverty, disease and unemployment

Aim: To help rebuild peoples lives after WWII
Government thus created a welfare system for the
people of Britain

Origin of National Health Service (NHS)

Welfare State
The government looks after the citizens from cradle to

grave
E.g. (1) Maternity grant and allowance,
(2) Child benefits,
(3) Supplementary benefits for the sick, injured and
unemployed,
(4) Retirement pension and (5) Death grant

Origin of National Health Service (NHS)

Ensure that every citizen has a minimum standard

of welfare for a decent life

Job + Home + Healthcare
People of the country contribute to a national
fund to help the needy people in their country

Origin of National Health Service (NHS)

NHS
Started in 1948 very popular
Provide free healthcare for its people

People do not have to pay for the medical treatments

that they receive when they are attended to by doctors
at clinics and hospitals
E.g. All medical services, dental and optical
treatments were free of charge

Origin of National Health Service (NHS)

Impacts:

(1) Too many people wanted to use the free medical

care
(2) Doctors used or recommended medical treatment
freely without much consideration for cost
1951: Medical treatment was no longer free
E.g. NHS charge a small fee for medicine given to

patients
E.g. Charge for dental treatment

Managing NHS
Managing Government Spending
The money to pay for healthcare came from the people
If healthcare costs increase, the government has to

collect more taxes to pay for healthcare and other

expenditure
Governments challenge: To control spending on
healthcare
1980s:

Managing NHS
1980s: Government under Margaret Thatcher
Cut back on government spending on welfare benefits

such as healthcare
Wanted a system that would make the individual more
responsible for his own healthcare and welfare
Because the government was spending too much on
welfare benefits
Impossible to remove free healthcare for the British
The NHS was the most important public good provided
by the government

Managing NHS
2000: Prime Minister Tony Blair promised the

people that the government would increased

public spending on healthcare and improve NHS
Resulted in increase in the National insurance
contribution in 2003

Managing NHS
Increasing Efficiency
1980s: Growing demand for healthcare for the elderly
Slower population growth caused reduction in taxes

over time
People also expect more and better treatments
NHS had grown very large but insufficient resources to
cope with demand
E.g. Insufficient doctors, nurses and facilities in
hospitals for surgeries

Managing NHS
Privatisation of NHS

Aims:
(1) To reduce government subsidies
(2) Save costs
(3) Make NHS more efficient
E.g. Contract out non-medical services
Impact: Allow hospitals to concentrate on
providing medical services

Managing NHS
Impacts:

(1) Private companies had to more

efficient to make profits
(2) Patients would have more choices
(3) Hospitals would improve their services
to meet the peoples needs
(4) Brtish citizens encouraged to take
responsibility for their own health
(5) Medicine, dental treatment and
services provided by opticians no longer
free except for students under 19 years
old, expectant mothers and mothers with
children under 1 year old

Managing NHS
Providing Quality Service
Late

1980s: People felt that NHS were of poor standard

1998: NHS focus on providing quality service for
patients
Impacts:
(1) Patients were given information to help them
decide on their own treatment and care
(2) Wait a long time to receive medical treatment

Managing NHS

2 plans were introduced to deliver quality service

by putting the needs of the patients as top priority
NHS Plan (2000)
Made changes based on feedback from staff,
patients and all those involved in healthcare
Provided for increase in the amount of
government spending till 2004
To work towards offering patients faster and
more convenient services
Allow NHS to use facilities in private hospitals
without having the patient pay for it

Managing NHS
NHS

Improvement Plan (2004)

Patients have the right to choose
from 4 different healthcare providers
NHS pay for the treatment
Every patient have access to their
own personal HealthSpace on the
Internet where they can view their
care records

Managing NHS
E.g.

NHS Direct
A service to provide medical advice
over the phone to patients with
minor illnesses
Impacts:
(1) Save a visit to the doctor
(2) Not strain the resources of the
NHS with doctors having to attend
to too many patients

Have British Healthcare

Policies met the Needs of
the People?

To a large extent
The intention of providing healthcare based on need

has remained unchanged since 1948

Challenge: NHS has to ensure that resources are
best used to meet the needs of the people
Involves the provision of funds and the

management of the NHS

Many Britons are thankful for the NHS and feel safe

knowing that they can have medical services when

they need them

Have British Healthcare

Policies met the Needs of
the People?
Doctors also feel that NHS has improved over

the years
Others felt that there has been no real
improvement
For the last 50 years, NHS has reformed to
meet the changing needs of the people in
healthcare