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.
Thousands of patients in England with multiple sclerosis (MS) are expected to benefit from the new treatment. This comes after the NHS becomes the first healthcare system in Europe to roll out a "take at home" tablet for individuals with active disease.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England, hoping to cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy and bring the health service back under central government control.
The UK government's AI action plan uses public sector data, including anonymised NHS patient information, to drive innovation while addressing crucial data security and Privacy concerns.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently launched a genomic surveillance programme to monitor the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its response to treatment.
A new collaboration between the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Barts Health NHS Trust has led to introduction a new DNA sequencing technology that will diagnose bacterial infections quicker and accurately in hospitals across the UK.
The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting’s, call for a “new relationship” between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England is an opportunity for more effective collaboration.
A new analysis from the Health Foundation has revealed concerns over the future funding needs of NHS England with warnings of a potential shortfall unless the health service can significantly boost its productivity in the coming years.
The government has come to a new agreement with the British Medical Association (BMA) to reform the General Practitioner (GP) contract, improving access to healthcare and restoring the family doctor model.
After the NHS announced the launch of their first ever breast cancer screening campaign, tens of thousands of women have been accessing vital advice on attending mammograms.
Piyush Mahapatra, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and chief innovation officer at Open Medical, considers the latest consultation on the future of the NHS and argues that what is needed is not a new vision but a plan for delivery and some radical new thinking on the role of healthcare technology.
Amanda Pritchard has announced her resignation as chief executive of NHS England, a development that has sent shockwaves through the health service. What does this change mean for the NHS and the future of UK healthcare policy?
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Trust (UHN) Group have used AI to become the first NHS organisation in England to join the European Trustworthy and Responsible AI Network (TRAIN).
The NHS is accelerating its digital transformation, driven by government targets and the need for efficiency. Funding gaps, legacy systems, and varying digital literacy pose significant challenges. A phased, people-centric approach to the NHS digital shift is crucial for sustainable change.
A new treatment option has become available for severe epilepsy: fenfluramine, which is now available on the NHS for children and adults living with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS).
