Health Financing Summit
04.14.10
The National Health Service of the United Kingdom
By British Ambassador Stephen LillieHealth Financing Summit, 14 April 2010
The UK National Health Service
> founded in 1948 > 3 core principles:
> It meets the needs of everyone.> It is free at the point of delivery.> It is based on clinical need, not ability to pay.
> delivered major improvements in health > has a proud history of innovation
The UK NHS
> 90,000 hospital doctors, > 35,000 general practitioners, > 400,000 nurses, and> 6,000 ambulance staff> 1m patients every 36 hours> 700,000 dental visits every week> 3,000 heart operations a week
In the 1990s, despite many achievements, it had become outdated and had systemic problems
> underfunded> understaffed> lacked national standards > had old-fashioned demarcations
between staff > had barriers between services> lacked clear incentives and levers
to improve performance> over-centralised > disempowered patients
Major investments
> facilities> staff> reforms> institutions
The NHS structure
Source: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/about/Pages/nhsstructure.aspx
The NHS today
Shaped around the needs and preferences of individual patients
>provides access to a comprehensive range of services>provides choices>helps reduce health inequalities>works with stakeholders>helps keep people healthy
NHS expenditure
Sources: ONS, Annual Abstract of Statistics: 2008, Table 10.22, and earlier editions; ONS database, series YBHA, ABMI and YBGB; Health Committee, Public Expenditure on Health and Personal Social Services 2007: Memorandum received from the Department of Health containing Replies to a Written Questionnaire from the Committee, HC 26-i, 8 November 2007, Table 2
Misconceptions about the NHS
> “Old people are denied prescribed drugs, treatment and surgery.”
> “The NHS denies state-of-the-art drugs to cancer patients.”
> “Patients have no choice about their treatment.”> “Women under 25 are not allowed a cervical smear test in the England because
its too expensive.”
> “Patients have to wait a very long time to be seen by a doctor or to receive treatment.”
UNTRUE!
The NHS today
> universal
> comprehensive
> efficient
> cost-effective
> egalitarian
> innovative
*Figures from World Health Organisation~Figures from Commonwealth Fund report - Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: An International Update on the Comparative Performance of American Health Care
““No society can legitimately call itself civilized No society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means." of lack of means."
-- Aneurin Bevan, architect of the NHS -- Aneurin Bevan, architect of the NHS
Health Financing Summit
04.14.10
