National Health Service - Essay Example

Lately, the concept of "internal market" has been introducing whereby the services are purchased from various sources either internal or other hospitals to make the system more efficient. In theory, each division of NHS is supposed to break even, though the practical picture is quite different many times. Repeated deficits and financial indiscipline can result in the replacement of the board of directors of the trusts of NHSFunctions of NHSThe main function of NHS is to provide health care to all the ordinary residents of UK healthcare services free of the cost funded through taxes.

NHS operates through a complex web of trusts which act locally and are managed, monitored by Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) to continuously improve the healthcare services.Sub-Categories of NHSBroadly the of NHS can be divided between Primary Care and Secondary CarePrimary care includes: NHS Direct- Online website which guides the usersNHS Walk-in Centers-Managing infections and rashes, fractures, emergency contraception, cuts & bruises, and burns and strainsGP Practices- Advice on health problems, vaccinations, treatment, referral to other health services, or social services.

DentistsOpticiansPharmacistsSecondary Care includesEmergency and Urgent CareAmbulance TrustsNHS TrustsMental Health TrustsCare TrustsAll the Primary subcategories are managed mainly by primary care trusts which overlook the GP, requisitioning other services like specialists, mental health, ambulance, etc. SHAs have a strategic role in managing the PCTs under their area. It is widely believed that NHS is the third-largest employer in the world after the Chinese Army and Indian Railways.