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.
A clearer balance between primary care communications channels is now emerging from the pandemic. While there are new questions on practice phone costs and patient inclusion, the aim should be for an “omnichannel” approach, argues Paul Bensley, managing director of X-on.
Deb Sutton and Dan Wadsworth from TeleTracking UK, argue that training frontline workers to make changes from bottom-up is key to achieving the full benefits of digital solutions within the NHS.
Here, Business Development Director at Aire Logic, Rob Hurrell, explains how COVID-19 has helped us all to become agile and deliver better digital health solutions, faster.
A recent study - undertaken ahead of World Mental Health Day 2020 - reveals that 1.9 million (27%) of UK smokers say they would like to quit for mental health reasons, compared to just 16% quitting over COVID-19 concerns.
Leila Romane, Head of Public Sector at SAP UK & Ireland, shows how in the midst of crisis co-innovation enabled companies to give back to communities and come out of the pandemic stronger.
Dr Simon Wallace, chief clinical information officer, Nuance, discusses the challenges of reimaging patient services for the ‘new normal’ and the continued importance of enabling the most efficient process of clinical documentation.
David McKinney, Managing Director of Local Government at Servelec, discusses how councils can build on the digital progress they’ve made during COVID-19, and use mobile solutions to move towards true joined-up working.
In recognition of International Day of Sign Languages, Clare Vale, managing director at Sign Solutions, highlights the importance of having on demand interpreters for deaf people in healthcare settings.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Digital Healthcare Council members have mobilised at an unprecedented scale to support the NHS and social care, and its director, Graham Kendall, outlines here what has worked, and what needs to change.
Craig Hartley, UK Business Development Manager for OPEX Business Machines GmbH explains how their solutions are helping both the NHS and the wider Public Sector achieve digital transformation.
