The NHS or National Health Service is the name used for the UK’s public health service. It was established in 1948 as one of the major social reforms decided after the Second World War. it was founded upon these main principles. That the services should be comprehensive, universal and free. UK residents are not charged for the treatment they receive. Citizens within the EU containing a European Heath Card can receive emergency treatment at no cost. Along with persons from countries with which the UK has reciprocal arrangements concerning health care.
Funding
The funding of the NHS comes 98.8 percent from general taxation and National Insurance contributions along with donations. The 2008/9 budget roughly equates to a contribution of £1,980 per person in the UK. When Launched the NHS budget was around £437 million however it received more than £100 billion in 2008/2009. 60 percent of the NHS budget is used to pay staff. With a further 20 percent paying for drugs and other supplies.
As the NHS grapples with unprecedented demand, workforce pressures and growing elective backlogs, agentic automation is emerging as the key practical lever of choice.
New research from UCL reveals alarming levels of tooth decay in adults in England, highlighting the need for improved dental care and public health initiatives.
A new University of Bristol study finds nearly 1 in 5 NHS emergency department patients are treated in corridors or waiting rooms, highlighting severe overcrowding and mounting pressure.
Resident doctors in England are weighing a revised government proposal on training and job reforms as the British Medical Association consults members on whether to call off planned December strikes.
A new NHS partnership is exploring how artificial intelligence could transform mental health services, improve access to care, and reduce pressure on clinicians.
As winter illnesses surge across the UK, a new national initiative aims to help people with long-term respiratory conditions stay healthier and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.
The NHS’s 10-Year Plan aims to transform healthcare by prioritising prevention, personalisation, and integration. This approach, argues John Clarke, must accommodate those who are digitally excluded while utilising technology to empower staff and improve patient outcomes.
A new Healthwatch England survey shows that 14% of GP referrals for specialist care are delayed, lost, or rejected, leaving thousands of patients waiting indefinitely for treatment.
NHS England is launching a first-of-its-kind maternity safety signal system (MOSS) designed to identify worrying trends early and trigger urgent safety checks, helping prevent harm to mothers and babies.
Disabled doctors warn they are being denied reasonable adjustments across the NHS, putting careers, patient safety, and wellbeing at risk despite legal protections.
The UK-US pharma deal removes tariffs, boosts NHS access to innovative medicines, and drives significant life-sciences investment, safeguarding patients and industry growth.
Resident doctors in England have announced strike action from 17–22 December amid a growing dispute over pay, warning that years of real-terms wage cuts and staff shortages are putting the NHS under extreme pressure.
A UK inquiry finds that around 23,000 deaths in England could have been prevented if the national lockdown had begun a week earlier in March 2020, highlighting major government failings during the pandemic.
