The National Health Service

The National Health Service or NHS is British healthcare system introduced in 1948. The UK government department responsible for the NHS is the Department of Health, headed by the Secretary of State for Health. Local (regional) health authorities (40) run under him, as they are based around university medical schools. It is funded in 3 ways: mainly through taxes, than by contributions from medical insurance companies and by prescribed drugs which cost £5. That is why medical treatment in Britain is free, though there are some exceptions. They are: prescribed drugs, dental treatment and spectacles. Nevertheless, children till the age of 16 and some other categories are free in any case.

If something occurs to a British, he or she goes to the General Practitioner (GP, family doctor) in nearly 90% of inquires. The GP may be found in Health Centres, Surgeries, and Practices. A visit to the GP looks this way: a patient is likely to book an appointment first. For that purpose it is better to make a call to a receptionist. Then at a set time the patient should come to the doctor and describe symptoms. The doctor would help him or her asking questions like ‘What seems to be the problem?’ or ‘What can I do for you?’ Then the doctor may ask the patient about the time since something unusual has happened. If your symptoms are swollen sore throat or you are broken down with flu; maybe you are suffering from food poisoning or from itchy spots known as chickenpox the GP probably may find the solution of the problem. Then goes a general check up, through which the doctor feels pulse, takes temperature, measures blood pressure (touches glands) and listens to the patient’s lungs. After that some medicine may be prescribed. It is better to follow these instructions. There is usually mentioned the optimal dose of medicine for a human being, e.g. ‘Take 2 tablets with plenty of water 3 times a day’ or ‘Take 2 teaspoonfuls of drops before breakfast’ and so on (eye drops, ear drops;...