Monday 7 February, 8pm
The National Health Service was founded on 5 July 1948. It was the first time anywhere in the world that free healthcare was made available.
It remains mainly funded through general taxation and National Insurance contributions. Before the NHS, healthcare was rationed to those who could afford to pay for it, or those who were lucky enough to receive charity. Patients at the more affluent addresses paid more, but they also expected to be visited more often!
Most people who could not afford health care, would not see a doctor unless they were severely ill. So when the free service was introduced, people queued to see their GP.
More than 50 years later the British public has fallen out of love with the NHS. Long waiting lists, MRSA, and negligent service may make people wonder where all their taxes went. However the NHS still provides the best and most modern healthcare to us, still, at no charge.
Your Money or your Life shows that the NHS has outgrown what it was originally intended to do, and the government has not increased its expenditure to match. What funding models will make the NHS function more efficiently? Should the government re-introduce the tiered payment system which pre-dated the NHS? Or should the government just put more money into the NHS?
If you want the best healthcare when you or your child need to be hospitalised? If you want to know about your rights as a patient check out the Get Active section.
Top
The National Health Service was founded on 5 July 1948. It was the first time anywhere in the world that free healthcare was made available.
It remains mainly funded through general taxation and National Insurance contributions. Before the NHS, healthcare was rationed to those who could afford to pay for it, or those who were lucky enough to receive charity. Patients at the more affluent addresses paid more, but they also expected to be visited more often!
Most people who could not afford health care, would not see a doctor unless they were severely ill. So when the free service was introduced, people queued to see their GP.
More than 50 years later the British public has fallen out of love with the NHS. Long waiting lists, MRSA, and negligent service may make people wonder where all their taxes went. However the NHS still provides the best and most modern healthcare to us, still, at no charge.
Your Money or your Life shows that the NHS has outgrown what it was originally intended to do, and the government has not increased its expenditure to match. What funding models will make the NHS function more efficiently? Should the government re-introduce the tiered payment system which pre-dated the NHS? Or should the government just put more money into the NHS?
If you want the best healthcare when you or your child need to be hospitalised? If you want to know about your rights as a patient check out the Get Active section.
Top