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.
Researchers have developed an AI stethoscope that discovers heart conditions in 15 seconds, giving NHS GPs a quick and simple tool to spot problems earlier.
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has initiated an inquiry into corridor care in NHS hospitals in England, following a campaign by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
The Health Tech Alliance explores how looking beyond costs to examine value-based procurement will impact health technology and innovation within the NHS.
University of Manchester research warns that burnout, low job satisfaction, and poor work–life balance could push a third of GPs in England out of patient care within five years.
Expectant mothers in England can now bypass GP visits by completing a simple online form on NHS.uk to self-refer directly to local maternity services, ensuring timely and personalised care.
The Royal College of Nursing highlights a sharp rise in physical attacks on A&E staff from 2,093 incidents in 2019 to 4,054 in 2024 and urges the government to make urgent changes.
The University of Manchester is partnering in a nationwide project to help the NHS tackle fraud, using expert research and collaboration to strengthen safeguards, protect resources, and support the delivery of vital healthcare services.
The UK government announces the Graduate Guarantee, unlocking thousands of new NHS jobs for newly qualified nurses and midwives, ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.
NICE has endorsed idebenone (Raxone) on the NHS to treat Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy in individuals aged 12 and over, offering hope to around 250 people.
The NHS is starting the world’s first vaccine programme to prevent gonorrhoea, using the 4CMenB meningitis vaccine in high‑risk groups from August 2025.
During the 2025 resident doctors’ strike, the NHS successfully maintained thousands of patient appointments by implementing strategic planning and empowering local healthcare teams to manage resources effectively.
University Hospitals of North Midlands has secured £250,000 from NIHR to run the ICE trial, a two‑year feasibility study testing a novel dye method to improve surgical outcomes in endometriosis.
