The History of the NHS (original) (raw)
Related papers
A creature of its time: the critical history of the creation of the British NHS
2011
The British National Health Service was formed in 1948, and has since been internationally admired and emulated. This paper seeks to understand the circumstances of its creation: why it could only have happened in this brief window of opportunity at the end of the Second World War. It argues that the structural weaknesses and chronic under-financing in its first few years have been difficult to rectify, but that the British love affair with the concept of a universal free healthcare service has prevented, until now, any serious erosion of its function. It suggests that closer examination of the historical context of the NHS, especially the negotiations that created it, and the concept of policy ’path dependency’ can help to understand its current crisis.
2015
The death of the English National Health Service (NHS) may be slow in coming but that does not mean that it is not the Conservative-led UK government’s desired end state. The government is displaying tactical cunning in achieving its long-term purpose to remould the British state. Powell seeks greater clarity amidst the confusion but the lack of clarity is a principal weapon in the government’s assault on the public realm, including the NHS. Moreover, there is ample supporting evidence to caution against Powell’s tendency to complacency concerning the ultimate fate of the NHS.
Competition, Cooperation, Or Control? Tales From The British National Health Service
Health Affairs, 1999
In the battle between market competition and central control in Britain's health care system, control won. Will Labour's new version of the market prevail? by Julian Le Grand PROLOGUE: In July 1998 the British National Health Service (NHS) marked its fiftieth anniversary. The NHS brought together in one organization, for the first time, hospital, physician, and community health services-and also posed administrative and fiscal challenges that continue to plague it. Britain undertook the latest in a series of reforms after the New Labour party assumed power in 1997. This latest reform, which represents a "third way" between the poles of liberal and conservative, focuses more on collaboration and less on the competitive principles of the previous internal-market reforms of Britain's Conservative government. In this paper Julian Le Grand discusses "the evidence concerning the internal market's effectiveness," building on a paper published in Health Affairs last July (Rudolf Klein, "Why Britain Is Reorganizing Its National Health Service-Yet Again"). Following Le Grand's paper is a series of Perspectives, focusing both on the NHS reforms and on another endeavor under way in Britain: an attempt to address inequalities in health, based on a study of the social determinants of health and poverty. This discussion has implications for other health care systems as they seek to improve their citizens' health in an era of cost constraints. Le Grand is Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as an adviser to the World Bank and the European Commission, and is prominent in Britain as an advocate of the "third way."
The British National Health Service: A Tarnished MoralVision
Health Care Analysis, 1999
Last year (1998) saw the celebration of the 50th Anniversaryof the British National Health Service (NHS). One ofthe few completely nationalised systems of health carein the world, the NHS is seen by many as a moralbeacon of what it means to provide equitable medicaltreatment to all citizens on the basis of need andneed alone. However, others argue that it has failedto achieve the overall goals for which it was created.Because of scarce resources, some urgently needed careis not available at all, while that which is receivedis sometimes second class. For these reasons, it isclaimed that the NHS should be scrapped and replacedby other systems of health care delivery.This paper outlines the history of the NHS,indicating some of the problems and innovations whichhave led to its current organization and structure.The philosophical foundations of the NHS are then articulated and defended on the grounds that it stillrepresents a morally coherent and economicallyefficient approach to the delivery of health care.Scarce resources are the key problem facing the NHS,making rationing inevitable and it is shown thatthis is not incompatible with the moral foundations ofthe service. However, there can be little doubt thatthe NHS is now becoming dangerously under-funded. Thepaper concludes with arguments about why this is soand what might be done about it.
More Than Healthcare: The NHS and Society
Masters Dissertation, 2019
The enduring support and attachment the public has for the NHS has been likened to a religion. The institution attracts more support than any other, is claimed to be the most important factor in generating pride in Britain and is strongly associated with national values and identity. This dissertation explores how the NHS has shaped society beyond the delivery of healthcare. A philosophic assessment of the role of public institutions in transmitting values to society is followed by an interrogation of the deeper meaning the NHS has for the population. A theme of community emerges, demonstrating how the NHS and society are closely aligned in the collective public mind, allied to a nostalgic longing for social cohesion. Theoretical and empirical analysis demonstrate how the NHS, through its universal nature, positively influences societal attitudes and, by encouraging trust in citizens, has made a contribution towards social cohesion.