National Health Service facts for kids
_logo.svg){kind=logo}
_logo.svg){kind=logo}
The National Health Service (NHS) is the name for the public healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. It includes the NHS in England, NHS Scotland, and NHS Wales. In Northern Ireland, the health service is called Health and Social Care, but people often call it "the NHS" too.
These services were started in 1948 after the Second World War. The main ideas were that healthcare should be for everyone, available to all, and free when you need it. This means most health services are free for people living in the UK. However, you usually pay for dental treatment, eye care, and prescriptions in England.
In 2015–16, these four services together employed about 1.6 million people. Their total budget was around £136.7 billion. By 2024, the UK health workforce was nearly 1.5 million people. This makes it one of the largest employers in the world. When the NHS buys medicines or other supplies, its large size helps keep prices lower for everyone.
Contents
How the NHS Started
People started talking about a national health service a long time ago, even in 1909. In 1934, a group called the Socialist Medical Association suggested that the Labour Party should create a State Health Service.
After a report in 1942 suggested creating full health services for everyone, politicians from different parties agreed that a National Health Service was a good idea. A Conservative politician named Henry Willink also supported this idea in 1944.
When the Labour Party won the election in 1945, Clement Attlee became Prime Minister. He chose Aneurin Bevan to be the Health Minister. Bevan worked hard to create the NHS. Laws were passed in 1946 for England and Wales, and in 1947 for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The NHS in Wales became separate from NHS England in 1969. During the Second World War, many hospitals had to work together to treat people injured in air raids. This showed that a national hospital service was possible.
The NHS was created because people believed that everyone should get healthcare, no matter how rich or poor they were. At first, some politicians wanted local groups to control hospitals. But Bevan wanted the NHS to own all hospitals nationally. This is how the NHS works today: it's a large national organisation (with similar ones in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) that took over hospitals from local groups and charities.
When Bevan launched the NHS on 5 July 1948, it had three main rules:
- It should help everyone.
- It should be free when you need it.
- It should be based on what care you need, not what you can pay.
Three years later, Bevan resigned from the government. He disagreed with charging people for false teeth and glasses. Another future Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, also resigned. Later, prescription fees were introduced, but then removed, and then brought back with some people not having to pay. These charges have been a topic of debate throughout the NHS's history.
The NHS is a very important part of British society. It was even featured in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, showing how much it means to the country.
Who Can Get Treatment?
Some health services are free for everyone. This includes emergency room treatment, registering with a local doctor (GP), and getting treatment for some infectious diseases.
Most people living in the UK can use the NHS without paying the full cost. However, there are standard charges for dental care and eye care in all four UK health services. In England, most patients pay for prescriptions, but some people (like those over 60 or on certain benefits) don't have to.
People who don't usually live in the UK might have to pay for services. But there are exceptions, like refugees. If you don't qualify for free treatment, you might be asked to pay beforehand or promise to pay later. Some government workers or people in the armed forces serving overseas are also exempt.
People from EU or European Economic Area (EEA) countries with a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can get free emergency treatment. The UK also has agreements with some other countries for emergency healthcare.
If you apply for a UK visa for more than six months, you usually pay an "immigration health surcharge." After paying this, you can get NHS treatment like a resident. Some people, like health workers or victims of slavery, don't have to pay this charge. In 2024, the yearly charge was £776 for students and young people, and £1035 for most others.
How the NHS is Paid For
The NHS gets its money mainly from general taxes and National Insurance contributions. A small part (about 1%) comes from patient charges for some services.
In 2022/23, about £181.7 billion was spent on health services in England. Most of this money (over 94%) went towards staff salaries and medicines.
For 2024/25, Wales planned to spend £11.74 billion on health and social care. Scotland budgeted £19.5 billion, and Northern Ireland budgeted £7.3 billion for health.
NHS Staff
The NHS is the biggest employer in Europe. About one in every 25 adults in England works for the NHS. Nurses make up the largest group, with over 330,000 employees. There are also many clinical support staff, scientific and technical staff, and doctors.
Challenges for the NHS
Money and Costs
How the NHS is funded is often a big topic during elections. It was especially important during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022, a group called Civitas said that health spending was costing about £10,000 per household in the UK. They also said the UK has one of the most expensive health systems but sometimes has worse results compared to other European countries.
The Labour Government elected in 2024 said the NHS was "broken." They plan to create a new "10-year plan" for the NHS.
The cost of social care (help for people who need support at home or in care homes) is also expected to rise. Experts say we need enough money and staff for both health and social care. This way, people can live longer with a good quality of life.
Staff and Waiting Lists
.svg)
In 2018, the Royal College of Physicians said that the number of medical training places needed to double by 2030. This is because many doctors work part-time.
In 2022, a survey found that only a quarter of nursing shifts had enough registered nurses. The NHS might also have a shortage of local doctors (GPs). The number of GPs fell between 2015 and 2022.
In 2023, a plan was announced to train more doctors and nurses and create new roles in the health service. In 2024, the Welsh and UK governments agreed to work together to reduce NHS waiting lists.
Mental Health Support
Many young people in the UK wait a long time to see an NHS mental health professional. Some wait over three months, and a few wait a year or more. A report found that mental health services for children and young people might not keep up with the growing need. Only about a quarter of young people who need mental health help can get it from the NHS right now.
How Well the NHS Performs
The performance of the NHS is usually looked at separately for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Surveys often compare the NHS to health systems in other wealthy countries.
In 2021, the NHS was ranked fourth among 11 wealthy countries. It had dropped in areas like how easy it is to get care and fairness. Another study in 2010 ranked the NHS second among seven rich countries, saying it was very efficient.
A 2018 study found that the NHS was good at protecting people from high costs when they were ill. Waiting times were about average. However, the study noted that death rates for cancer, heart attacks, and strokes were higher than in similar countries. The NHS was also efficient, with low administrative costs.
In 2019, a study in the British Medical Journal said that Britain spent less on health per person compared to other developed countries. It also had more deaths that could have been prevented with quick treatment.
Overall satisfaction with the NHS fell in 2021, reaching its lowest level since 1997. People were most unhappy about waiting times for hospitals and GP appointments.
What People Think About the NHS
Many people in the UK support paying more taxes to help fund the NHS. A 2016 poll showed that 70% of people would pay extra income tax if the money was guaranteed for the NHS.
In 2018, a poll found that 74% of the public thought there were too few nurses. The NHS is often ranked as the institution that makes people proudest to be British, even more than the Royal Family or the Armed Forces. Nurses and doctors are also seen as some of the most trustworthy professions.
In 2022, a survey found that only a third of people thought the NHS gave a good service nationally. Most people (82%) believed the NHS needed more money. People wanted to see improvements in staff numbers, workload, and waiting times. However, most people still believe the NHS should be free, available to everyone, and paid for mainly by taxes.
In 2020, the NHS gave important medical advice during the coronavirus pandemic. It also worked with technology companies to create tools to help fight the virus. The NHS changed its 1-1-1 helpline to include COVID-19 advice.
After being treated for COVID-19 in 2020, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the NHS had "saved my life." The NHS also made big changes to get ready for the pandemic.
On 5 July 2021, Queen Elizabeth II gave the NHS the George Cross. This is a very high award for bravery for civilians. The Queen said the award was for all NHS staff, past and present, for their "courage, compassion and dedication" during the pandemic.
Hospital Beds
In 2015, the UK had 2.6 hospital beds for every 1,000 people. By 2017, the number of NHS hospital beds in England was 142,000. This was less than half the number from 30 years before.
NHS Music Releases
The NHS has released several charity songs:
- 2015: National Health Singers – "Yours"
- 2015: NHS Choir – "A Bridge Over You"
- 2018: NHS Voices – "With a Little Help from My Friends"
- 2018: National Health Singers – "NHS 70: Won't Let Go"
- 2020: NHS and keyworkers – "You'll Never Walk Alone"
See also
- History of the NHS England
- History of NHS Scotland
- History of NHS Wales
- National Care Service
- Private providers of NHS services
- Special health authority
- Criticism of the National Health Service (England)
General
- Health care in the United Kingdom
- Health in the United Kingdom
