nhs
The NHS (National Health Service) is a service that provides all British residents with access to health care, regardless of age, location or financial status. It is partly funded by the government and also through the taxation system. The NHS is the largest organisation in Europe.
The Department of Health is responsible for managing the NHS. They oversee allocation of funds and also determine strategy and where resources within the NHS are best placed. Modernisation is a key issue within the NHS and it is the Department of Health who ultimately are responsible for driving the modernisation plan across all areas of the NHS. They are accountable for reducing waiting lists, increasing efficiency of NHS procedures, and improving diagnosis and treatments in an effort to reduce mortality rates.
The NHS is recognised by the World Health Organisation as providing one of the best health care services in the world. Under the umbrella of the NHS are hospitals, known as NHS Trusts, GPs, dentists, opticians, pharmacies and walk-in health centres. The ambulance service, known as the Ambulance Trust, also comes in under the NHS.
The NHS is active in the community too. It runs non-urgent patient transport helping those people who need regular treatment to get to hospital or a care centre and to take them home again.
For more information on the NHS please use the resources on our site.