National Health Service
Publicly-funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom
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The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom, comprising the NHS in England, NHS Scotland and NHS Wales. Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland was created separately and is often locally referred to as "the NHS". The original three systems were established in 1948 as part of major social reforms following the Second World War. The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, provided without charge for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care. In England, NHS patients have to pay prescription charges; some, such as those aged over 60, or those on certain state benefits, are exempt.
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Number of homeless people admitted to hospital rises by 60% in four yearsThe number of homeless people seeking NHS treatment has surged in the past four years, as the homelessness crisis fuels a health crisis, according to a charity.Sky News - Published | |
NHS charity distances itself from The Captain Tom FoundationAn NHS charity which received more than £38m raised by Captain Sir Tom Moore has distanced itself from a foundation set up in honour of the fundraising war veteran.Sky News - Published | |
Controversial skin cream used for treatments may come to UK A new controversial skin cream that is used for vitiligo, may soon be offered on the NHS if it is approved by UK experts.Sky News - Published | |
Why are so many staff leaving the NHS?In the 24 years Linda Tovey has worked for the NHS, she has never seen the health service so short of staff.Sky News - Published | |
Is Heatherwood Hospital a model for the future of the NHS? Pradeep Gill can see very little of the intense activity around him. He is leaning back in a reclining chair inside one of Heatherwood Hospital's operating theatres.Sky News - Published | |
Politicians are not offering a comprehensive solution on how to fix the NHS The NHS is in the worst crisis in its 75 years, say health experts.Sky News - Published | |
Vacancies, staffing, pay and hospital beds: This is the NHS in numbers Winter pressures, an ageing population, strikes, staff shortages and COVID backlogs have left the NHS in crisis.Sky News - Published | |
BioNTech cancer treatments deal is a coup for the government and a challenge for the NHS BioNTech has signed a deal with the UK government to enrol up to 10,000 patients in clinical trials by the end of 2030 for personalised cancer therapies.Sky News - Published | |
How the NHS is using 'virtual wards' and smartphones to clear beds at hospitals operating at near capacity "We're looking for patients," Jodie Storrow tells me as we walk along a long corridor on the third floor of University Hospital Coventry.Sky News - Published | |
Sunak wants vaccine taskforce-style strategy to tackle NHS 'missions' like cancer and obesity Rishi Sunak hopes a "blueprint" inspired by the coronavirus vaccine rollout will help tackle the NHS's four "healthcare missions" of cancer, obesity, mental health and addiction.Sky News - Published | |
Health secretary unveils £500m plan to free up hospital beds and unblock the NHS The health secretary has pledged £500m to get healthy patients out of hospital to free up beds and ease the crisis in the NHS.Sky News - Published | |
NHS bosses accuse Truss and Sunak of having no solutions to fix crisisHealthcare leaders have called for Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to come up with proper solutions to fix the NHS instead of offering "glib soundbites, gimmicks and political rhetoric".Sky News - Published | |
Government under pressure to further reduce self-isolation period to ease pressure on the NHS A number of scientists have said that the UK should follow in the footsteps of the US and reduce the COVID self-isolation period to five days, in an effort to protect the NHS.Sky News - Published | UK buys 4.25m extra antiviral courses as Omicron continues to sweep country The UK has bought an extra 4.25m courses of antivirals for the NHS to help fight the Omicron variant of COVID.Sky News - Published |
NHS could run 24/7 vaccine clinics and discharge patients to hotels under 'level four' plansThe NHS could run 24/7 vaccine clinics and discharge patients to hotels under plans as it prepares to ramp up the COVID-19 booster scheme ahead of next year.Sky News - Published | Govt experts 'can't rule out' Omicron causing biggest wave of infections yet that may overwhelm NHS The Omicron variant could trigger a surge in COVID infections bigger than previous waves in the UK with a risk it may overwhelm the NHS, a key group of scientists have warned.Sky News - Published |
