The NHS was set up in 1948 to provide healthcare for all, based
on need, not the ability to pay. The key aim of the NHS is to bring about
the highest level of physical and mental health for everyone within
the resources available. The NHS is funded by the taxpayer. This means it
is accountable to parliament. It is managed by the NHS Executive, a part
of the Department of Health, which in turn is directly responsible to the
Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn. Around 1 million people work
for the NHS and it costs around £50 billion per annum to run.
In a typical week in the NHS:
- 1.4 million people will receive help in their home
- 800,000 people will be treated in NHS out-patients clinics
- 10,000 babies will be delivered
- NHS ambulances will make over 50,000 emergency journeys
- NHS Direct nurses will receive around 25,000 calls from people seeking
medical advice
- Pharmacists will dispense approximately 8.5 million items on NHS prescription
For more information on the structure of the NHS please visit www.nhs.uk
the National Health Service website.
