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 National Health Service 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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UK NHS is offering a world first 'blood matching' test to treat sickle cell patients Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:40Published | |
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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 UKA 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 NHSThe 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 numbersWinter 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 NHSBioNTech 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 obesityRishi 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 NHSThe 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 NHSA 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 countryThe 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 NHSThe 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 |
UK has little 'headroom' for COVID-19 cases to surge before NHS 'heavily stressed', professor warnsThe UK has little "headroom" for rising coronavirus cases before the NHS becomes "heavily stressed", an expert has warned.Sky News - Published | Nurse says he might quit NHS if COVID vaccines are made compulsory for health workersA nurse has told Sky News he might quit the NHS if COVID-19 vaccines are made compulsory for health workers.Sky News - Published |
Regulator imposes £100m fine over '6,000%' price gouging hit to NHSThe competition watchdog has imposed fines totalling £100m in the latest case of so-called price gouging that saw patients lose access to a free drug on the NHS.Sky News - Published | Ken Clarke accused at Infected Blood Inquiry of failing to present evidence to victimsThe contaminated blood scandal has been described as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.Sky News - Published |
Tokyo Olympics: Philip Doyle on Game of Thrones, working in the NHS and the OlympicsIrish rower Philip Doyle tells BBC Sport NI about his role in Game of Thrones, working for the NHS as a trainee doctor during the Covid-19 pandemic and his Olympic hopesBBC Sport - Published | What does a surge in COVID infections mean for the NHS?The number of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 every day in England has more than doubled since the start of July.Sky News - Published |
Two drug companies fined £260m for swindling NHS over 'life-saving medicines'Two pharmaceutical companies have been fined more than £260m by the UK’s competition watchdog after the pair colluded to overcharge the NHS for almost a decade.Sky News - Published | Seasonal viruses and COVID-19 could leave NHS 'unable to cope' this winter, scientists warnAs many as 60,000 people could die from flu this winter and a combination of seasonal viruses and COVID-19 could leave the NHS "unable to cope", according to a report.Sky News - Published |
NHS staff could soon be made exempt from COVID self-isolation rules if 'pinged' by the appNHS staff could soon be made exempt from coronavirus self-isolation requirements.Sky News - Published | Redress scheme for women impacted by three NHS scandals ruled out by governmentThe government has ruled out any redress scheme for women impacted by three NHS scandals.Sky News - Published |
Queen gives 'courageous' and 'dedicated' NHS the George CrossThe Queen has given the George Cross to the National Health Service, recognising its staff - past and present - across the UK.Sky News - Published | Former Test and Trace boss Baroness Dido Harding applies for NHS top jobThe former boss of the government’s coronavirus Test and Trace programme has applied to become the next head of the NHS.Sky News - Published |
All over-18s in England able to book jab by end of this week, NHS boss expectsAll adults in England are expected to be able to book a COVID-19 jab "by the end of this week", the head of the NHS has said.Sky News - Published | NHS to launch Long COVID services for childrenThe NHS is launching Long COVID services for children, as concerns grow about the number of young people experiencing long-term symptoms.Sky News - Published |
Thousands of men to benefit from new prostate cancer drug approved for use on NHSThousands of men are set to benefit from a new prostate cancer drug which has been approved for use on the NHS.Sky News - Published | Plan for NHS to collect patient data from GPs should be delayed over privacy fears, says LabourAn NHS system set to extract patient data from doctors' surgeries in England should be paused from doing so until people are told what information will be made available, Labour says.Sky News - Published |
Vaccines have 'broken the chain' between COVID and serious illness, NHS chief saysVaccines appear to have "broken the chain" between catching coronavirus and becoming seriously ill, an NHS boss has said.Sky News - Published | Baby becomes first NHS patient to receive world's most expensive drugA five-month-old baby with a spinal disorder has become the first NHS patient in England to be treated with a potentially life-saving drug that can prolong life.Sky News - Published |
Ex-female prisoner to become first to publicly sue NHS over mental health care in jailA woman who has been in and out of prison for 25 years is trying to become the first to publicly sue the NHS over claims of bad mental health care in jail.Sky News - Published | COVID vaccine could be made compulsory for NHS staff, minister saysCOVID jabs could be made compulsory for NHS staff, the vaccines minister has told Sky News.Sky News - Published |
Calls for NHS staff to have access to similar mental health support as war veteransNHS staff who worked through the pandemic should have access to a dedicated mental health service similar to that offered to war veterans, leading medical organisations have said.Sky News - Published | Soldier-turned doctor warns GP burnout 'would see the collapse the NHS'Picture a doctor's clinic where its medical staff are 'on their knees' and completely 'overwhelmed' by their relentless workload.Sky News - Published |
Brits highlights: Dua Lipa's NHS pay rise call, a Taylor Swift surprise, and live music returnsIt was the UK's return to indoor live music, marking the start of the road back to normality - and this year's Brit Awards struck just the right tone, with lively performances and stand-out fashion as..Sky News - Published | Thousands of doctors planning to leave the NHS citing pandemic stress and burnoutThousands of doctors are planning to leave the NHS in the coming year, exhausted by the coronavirus pandemic.Sky News - Published |
Mental health deteriorated for a quarter of patients who contacted NHS mental health services remotelyAlmost a quarter of people using NHS mental health services remotely said their mental health deteriorated as a result.Sky News - Published | Hancock accused of 'cronyism' after it emerges he has shares in family firm used by the NHSHealth Secretary Matt Hancock is being accused of "cronyism at the heart of government" by Labour after it was revealed he has been given shares in a family firm that has done business with the NHS.Sky News - Published |