The NHS or National Health Service is the name used for the UK’s public health service. It was established in 1948 as one of the major social reforms decided after the Second World War. it was founded upon these main principles. That the services should be comprehensive, universal and free. UK residents are not charged for the treatment they receive. Citizens within the EU containing a European Heath Card can receive emergency treatment at no cost. Along with persons from countries with which the UK has reciprocal arrangements concerning health care.
Funding
The funding of the NHS comes 98.8 percent from general taxation and National Insurance contributions along with donations. The 2008/9 budget roughly equates to a contribution of £1,980 per person in the UK. When Launched the NHS budget was around £437 million however it received more than £100 billion in 2008/2009. 60 percent of the NHS budget is used to pay staff. With a further 20 percent paying for drugs and other supplies.
New research has found that ethnic minority healthcare workers who are also born overseas face a double disadvantage due to the combined effects of ethnicity and migrant status.
Early into COVID-19 pandemic, almost half of all parents in the UK reported negative experiences of giving birth due to restrictions and poor communication.
Sodium valproate side effects are severe in pregnancy - but recent data reveals that the epilepsy drug is still prescribed, despite past evidence of birth defects.
Having lifted most of its COVID regulations – spikes in infections show that UK herd immunity through vaccination programmes is not efficient in the long run.
Access to fertility freezing treatments is becoming more scarce, as UK policy guidelines on fertility preservation are rigorous and NHS funding is “variable”.
The University of Manchester finds that Flash technology is better than finger-prick testing, keeping diabetes patients at a good blood sugar level - for an extra two hours per day.
Jon Taberner, Senior Rehabilitation Specialist at Nuffield Health, explains that individuals with long-term symptoms of COVID-19 will need a lot of support.
The NHS has pledged Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040, yet annual reports indicate the NHS are to miss this goal – adaption to necessary circular economy models is crucial.
Nicola Hemmings, workplace scientist at Koa Health, and Dr Claire Vowell, lead psychologist, discuss how mental health conditions exist across a continuum and address what organisations can do to better support those who do not have a mental health diagnosis.
The platform, My Planned Care, will let patients check local hospital waiting times for specialist treatment - in order to fight the NHS COVID backlog.
Though healthcare everywhere advocates for AI, health barriers are presented with minority ethnic groups – as bias can be exacerbated against minority ethnic groups in datasets.
