The aims of the NHS
Rohan Patel
Introduction
The NHS from the outset had three primary aims, set out from its foundation. These aims have formed the backbone of the NHS and its expansion into further aims and plans for the future. ‘Seventy years since its formation, these core principles still hold true. ’ 1
It shall be the duty of the Minister of Health to promote the establishment of a health service , following the primary aims:
I. Secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people II. Secure improvement in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness III. Services shall be free of charge ( except where any provision of this Act expressly provides for the making and recovery of charges ) 2
These aims apply to England and Wales, but the same aims 3 apply for Scotland.
The NHS recently celebrated its 70 th birthday and this review will explore the past, present and, vitally, future of the NHS, with an ageing and rising UK population. Figures suggest that by 2050 the percentage of 65 years or older could reach 25%. 4 When looking at the future, we must take this into account, especially in terms of the inevitable, extra pressure on health and social care services. The UK has seen a dramatic increase in life expectancy since the birth of the NHS in 1948 from 60 to 80 years in 2018. 5 Although, some argue that this increase puts more pressure on the NHS, this is a major achievement for theNHS and the first two aims have beenmet, but howdid the government bring about something like this, in the NHS? This review aims to investigate this key question. The first two primary aims of the NHS will be investigated simultaneously, as they are closely related.
Aim I. Secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people
Funding Funding is a necessary pre-requisite and the government must provide sufficient funds in order to be able to meet all three primary aims of the NHS. Increasingly to people, funding and running the NHS is viewed as a political decision, not as a decision to fulfil the needs of the NHS. Some may argue that
1 Welch, 2018: 8. 2 Parliament, 1946 NHS Act, 1946. 3 Parliament, National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947, 1947. 4 Office for National Statistics, 2019. 5 Welch, 2018: 8.
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