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.
NHS England initiated a ‘financial reset’ for 2025/26, expecting Trusts to improve productivity by 4%, operate within reduced budgets, and provide evidence of control. Gareth Jenkins from Changeology Group Ltd outlines how the company can help achieve these goals.
New WRES data shows 12.7% of very senior NHS managers are from Black & minority ethnic backgrounds, up from 11.2% in 2023, a significant rise since 2018.
The National Health Service (NHS) has recently unveiled its 10-year health plan to address its most significant challenges and transform the system into a...
The UK government introduces 'innovator passports' to streamline NHS adoption of new technologies, reducing red tape and enabling faster nationwide deployment of proven innovations.
A new report by the National Pharmacy Association reveals that patients spent over 6 million hours in A&E last year for minor health issues that could have been managed by community pharmacies, highlighting an opportunity to ease pressure on emergency services.
A groundbreaking AI system has been developed to identify patient safety concerns across the NHS, aiming to prevent harm and improve care outcomes through early intervention.
Over 55% of NHS communications professionals are now using AI tools, with 41% more showing interest. But a new report reveals adoption is patchy, with skill gaps and limited access slowing progress.
Getech, in collaboration with Lenovo, aims to tackle challenges in the NHS’s digital transformation by offering innovative IT solutions designed to meet the needs of healthcare workers.
Dr Ranee Thakar, President of RCOG, emphasises making women’s healthcare a priority in the new 10-Year Health Plan and outlines key questions to assess its impact.
The government has unveiled a transformative initiative that will empower millions of NHS patients to find and join clinical trials via the NIHR’s “Be Part of Research” portal within the NHS App.
