The Health of the Nation - Assignment Example

Explain the principles that contributed to the setting up of the NHS. Why was its creation a major contribution to the development of the welfare state? Introduction Those who are tasked to manage and spearhead the department of health were keen with the attention being accorded to public health. Of note is the fact that during the first world war, domestic authorities were charged with a wide institutional service that had to do with infectious illnesses, marginalised and sick individuals and those that had to be confined for the long haul. Thus, it is quite apparent that the advocacy for local government to extend this service to the hospital sector was necessary if not imperative (Charles 1995). Prior to the founding of the NHS, healthcare was inaccessible to the indigent, and giving birth in the streets was convention. Milestones of free healthcare gradually became the right of each citizen. The foundation of the NHS was on July 5, 1948 at the wake of the second world war (Ainsworth 2008 & Light 2003) and it definitely did experience its birth pains (Ainsworth 2008). During this time, it was quite obvious that the voluntary sector was nowhere near recovery. The apparent way of pushing for the progress of the NHS during that time was to drive the emerging holistic health services that were accorded for by the domestic government. The rationale for the contention for domestic government control has been acknowledged in the primary document from the Medical Planning Commission. The latter represents the stance of medical practitioners to the rebuilding of health services following the second world war. This entity has agreed with the hardships posed against the local government (Light 2003). Alas, the pioneeers of the NHS were Ebbw Vale MP and Aneurin Bevan (Wigley 2008). The latter was then the health minister of Britain in 1944 (Light 2003) and he coaxed the citizens of the country that the NHS was ideal (Portillo 1998). He was strategically agile, and has the capacity to drive key players in the medical arena or profession. His courageous vision to institutionalize all hospitals has been based on the Emergency Medical Service existing during the war. Concurrently, he says that centralizing these healthcare services under one management was not pragmatic considering that domestic authorities were defensive over their authority in looking after the health of the citizens (Light 2003). It was established in the middle of a broad consensus that health care should be made available to all. Yet the British only barely succeeded in overcoming professional opposition to form the NHS out of the prewar mixture of limited national insurance, various voluntary insurance schemes, charity care, and public health services. (Light 2003; Charles 1995; Douglas & Hewitt 1998). The core principles of the NHS are as follows: Healthcare system paid for by collective funds, available to all, guided by need, and largely free of charge (Sabin 1998). Factors that contributed to the setting up of NHS The most potent reason why NHS had come into being is the conviction that `peoples health is a matter of religious earnestness and this is what Lloyd George, the first politician to stand in favour of such program had taken this to heart when it first put forth as an ideology (Gordon 1998). Historically speaking, the NHS historian Charles Webster believes it took Hitler and mass bombing to break down the petty rivalries, the protective yet often shabby fiefdoms, and factional politics to allow an actual plan similar to NHS emerge. The terrorist attacks of September 11 pale in comparison. During World War II, more than 2 million homes in Britain were damaged or destroyed by the Luftwaffe. More than 100 000 people were killed. Three million hospital beds were urgently needed (Gordon 1998). An Emergency Medical Service was formed that took charge of all medical services in the nation which effectually owned all British hospitals. It was also at that time that there was a creation of coordinated hospital service, national and regional services for laboratory work and blood transfusions, and nationalized services for surgery, neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitation, blood-transfusion and pathology services, and transformed sprawling Victorian country institutions into busy hospitals serving the bomb-threatened cities. As Webster notes, "The Luftwaffe achieved in months what had defeated politicians and planners for at least two decades (Light 2003). Splendidly, it was the “Dunkirk Spirit” which inspired the creation of our present health-and-welfare-clouded heaven. Then, the Beveridge Report appeared in 1942, the dark year of Singapores surrender and soap rationing. It proposed social security, to be enjoyed in good, and have a free health. It was in 1944 when the then Health Minister Henry Willink produced the white paper, A National Health Service (Gordon 1998). Practically, Nye Bevan saw that free medical care for all was achievable by `stopping the physicians mouths with gold. They signed up for 9/11ths of the working weeks half-days, leaving their weekends, evenings, early mornings and Christmas Day for as much private practice as was necessitated by their lifestyle and permitted by exhaustion. Another golden gag was a `merit award, a hefty increase in pay and pension bestowed secretly by medical peers and pals, which, if it had happened in the City would raised pointed questions from shareholders, if not from the Fraud Squad (Gordon 1998). This gave encouragements for medical practitioners to perform their duties while charging less or practically nothing. As such, the “Hippocratic tradition” emerged, with the primary vision that nothing must interfere with the doctors devotion to his patient nor withhold its means (Gordon 1998). In summary, NHS serves as a dreary image of everything we want to avoid and what we might get if we actually developed a universal system that is equitable and efficient (Light 2003). NHS’ Major Contribution to the Welfare of UK The most startling effect of the NHS is incidental when the hospitals have become humane (Gordon 1998). It has been said by Rintala and Owen (2003) that the creation of the National Health Service covers Britain’s greatest piece of twentienth century social legislation because the NHS offers many advantages to UK residents, especially in terms of the cost, the care available and the continuous quality reviews. (http://www.monetos.co.uk/insurance/health-insurance/nhs/advantages/). From its inception, NHS overhauled the health services in UK (Webster 2002, p.25) and encouraged the development of leading medical research in certain specialism (Blakemore & Griggs 2007, p. 191). The National Health Service offers care to all residents of the United Kingdom. It introduces free access to primary care services to the entire population (Morrell 1998). NHS provides prevention and comprehensive health care and treatment and Comprehensive state medical services are accessible to all members of the community of the United Kingdom (Webster 2002, pp.1; 15). The NHS has been envisioned to accord UK citizens with all their healthcare needs, from cradle to grave. The main thrust of the health service is to ensure that any individual who is in need of medical services, regardless of his demographic make up or background is able to receive such service without much trouble. The NHS accords free medical services to majority of the citizens of Britain (http://www.monetos.co.uk/insurance/health-insurance/nhs/advantages/). In 2009, the UK Department of Health (2009) asserts that due to the NHS, individuals that are beyond 60 years of age and youths below 16; individuals with certain medical circumstances; and those that are indigent; are not obliged to pay. This definitely is a helpful benefit in comparison with those offered in other nations, which has many miscellaneous charges before a citizen may avail of such services. Under the NHS, each taxpayer donates the same contribution amount, and this does not depend on the frequency with which they visit a physician or are wanting od medical care. Majority are required to dole out small amounts; however, it must be noted that a substantial percentage are exempt (http://www.monetos.co.uk/insurance/health-insurance/nhs/advantages/). Each UK citizen is accorded with diagnostic care for any disease of issue related to physical or mental health. Moreover, they can receive care for both major and minor diseases. Minor diseases may include influenza, cough, or rashes, among others. Serious illnesses such as diabetes and heart conditions are likewise covered by their services. All these are offered to UK citizens without any cose. Moreover, they also receive prenatal care without charge (http://www.monetos.co.uk/insurance/health-insurance/nhs/advantages/). True enough, the words “Paid for by the NHS" when a bill is submitted during a stay in a medical facility or after a medical procedure is much appreciated by UK citizenry (Patel 2009, p.1). The NHS has a full array of healthcare srvices that are offered to all citizens, which are all geared towards the provision of apt healthcare. Their healthcare issues may vary and on this variation depends whether they will receive treatment from a physician or dentist; moreover, this determines the location where they will receive treatment, and even the medium of medical advice (i.e. which may be received through a helpline). The healthcare services offered are wide in scope, and encompass vacinnations, psychological treatment, and even care for those who have experienced out of the normal pregnancies (i.e. ectopic) (http://www.monetos.co.uk/insurance/health-insurance/nhs/advantages/). Another example of its significant contribution to the UK’s welfare is it actually helps in reducing the sickness rates like what Wales had during the period of 2004 to 2008, according to the Welsh spending watchdog (Dicken 2009, p.12). Moreover, NHS has offered individuals and domestic communities with an authentic chance to become personally empowered in decision making related to the health care services they receive. Ultimately, they receive optimal care and are able to restore and sustain their well-being (M2Presswire 2003). Conclusion The provision of National Health Services is centered on the principle that citizens; well being is a priority that must be driven with earnestness and sincerity (Gordon 1998). With the establishment of the institution was the evolution of the provision of health services (Webster 2002, p. 25) which paved the way for breakthrough medical research as well (Blakemore & Griggs 2007, p. 191). Through these, UK citizens are accorded with apt healthcare services which are offered free or at a very meager cost. It can also be fairly gleaned from the related literatures gathered that NHS also significantly helped in reducing the rate of sickness in UK (Dicken 2009, p.12). Thus, it can now be inferred that due to theh NHS, the patients disease is no longer the property of the consultant/physician (Gordon 1998). However, though NHS may be the best in the program in the world, it is still imperative that it be run with goodwill and with efficiency (Gordon 1998). That remains to be the call of the day. References Ainsworth, S 2008, ‘The birth of the NHS’, Practice Nurse. vol. 36, no. 1, p 38. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009] Blakemore, K & Griggs, E 2007, An Introduction by Blakemore, Open University Press, UK Douglas, C & Hewitt, K, ‘The health of the Nation: The people’s frail healer’, The Guardian Manchester, 25 June, p. T002. Available from: Proquest. [13 May 2009] Charles, W 1995, ‘Loval Government and healthcare: The historical perspective’, British International Journal. vol. 310, no. 6994, pp. 1584. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009]. Dicken, P 2009, ‘Welsh NHS successful in reducing sick days’, Public Finance, p.12. Gordon, R 1998, ‘The birth of an idea: A helping hand from the Iron Chancellor Richard Gordon’, The Guardian Manchester, 25 June, p. T006. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009] http://www.monetos.co.uk/insurance/health-insurance/nhs/advantages/ Light, DW 2003, ‘Universal health care: Lessons from the British experience’, American Journal of Public Health. vol. 93, no. 1, pp. 25-30. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009] M2Presswire 2003, ‘UK Government: Patient and public involvement forums go live’, Coventry, 1 December, p 1. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009] Morrell, D 1998, ‘As I recall’, British Medical Journal. 4 July, vol. 317, no. 7150, pp. 40 – 45. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009] Patel, K 2009, ‘Paid for by the NHS’, British Medical Journal, vol.338, no.7693, pp.548. Portillo, M 1998, ‘Something to celebrate: The Bevan legacy’, British Medical Journal. 4 July, vol. 317, no. 7150, pp. 37-40. Available from: Proquest. [13 May 2009] Rintala, M and Owen, L 2003, Creating the National Health Service, Routledge. Sabin, JE 1998, ‘Our NHS: A celebration of 50 years’, British Medical Journal. 25 July, vol. 317, no. 7153, p. 289. Available from: Proquest. [13 May 2008] UK Department of Health 2009, NHS costs and exemptions, UK Department of Health. Available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/NHScosts/DH_087013 [15 May 2009]. Webster, C 2002, The National Health Service: A Political History, University Press. Wigley, D 2008, ‘Viewpoint: National Health Service whose 60th anniversary’, Daily Post, 28 August, p. 14. Available from: Proquest. [11 May 2009]. Read More