Key facts
- Founded
- 5 July 1948
- Founder
- Aneurin Bevan
- Principle
- Free at point of use
- Emergency
- 999
- Non-emergency
- 111
The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK's public healthcare system. It provides healthcare to all UK residents, free at the point of use.
History
- Founded: 5 July 1948
- Founder: Aneurin Bevan (Labour Health Secretary)
- Principle: Healthcare free at the point of use, based on need, not ability to pay
How It Works
Funding
- Funded by taxation and National Insurance
- Free at the point of use (with some exceptions)
- One of the world's largest employers
Services Provided Free
- GP (General Practitioner) appointments
- Hospital treatment
- Accident & Emergency (A&E)
- Ambulance services
- Mental health services
- Maternity care
Charges Apply For
- Prescriptions (free in Wales, Scotland, NI; charges in England)
- Dental care (subsidised)
- Eye tests (for some people)
- Some cosmetic procedures
Registering with the NHS
To use NHS services:
- 1Register with a GP surgery near your home
- 2Bring proof of address and ID
- 3You can then book appointments and access services
NHS Values
- Working together for patients
- Respect and dignity
- Commitment to quality
- Compassion
- Everyone counts
Emergencies
- 999 - Life-threatening emergencies
- 111 - Non-emergency medical advice
- A&E - Accident and Emergency departments
Why it comes up in the test
Know the NHS was founded in 1948, is free at the point of use, and how to access it.
Common traps
- Thinking everything is free (prescriptions have charges in England)
- Forgetting the founding date (1948)
- Not knowing Aneurin Bevan founded it
The National Health Service (NHS): common questions
The NHS was founded on 5 July 1948. Aneurin Bevan, the Labour Health Secretary, is credited as its founder.
Written from Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), the only official source for the test. BritPass is not affiliated with the Home Office; if anything here differs from the handbook, the handbook is right.
