Healthcare in Britain (National Health Service)

1. Healthcare in Britain (National Health Service)

2. Learning Points • Explain how the National Health Service (NHS) came about • Explain what is a welfare state • Explain what is NHS • Explain the changes made to NHS

4. How did the National Health Service (NHS) come about?

5. Background of the healthcare system in Britain before 20th Century • British government did not provide much medical care for its citizens • People had to depend on private charities, friends or family • How do you think the healthcare system of Britain was like then? • Did it take care of the people? • What happens to the people who had no one to support them?

6. Background of the healthcare system in Britain from the 1940s • Government took up responsibility to look after its citizens • In 1942, William Beveridge proposed a welfare system in ‘The Beveridge Report’ Aims of the report: • To put an end to poverty, disease and unemployment • To help rebuild lives after WWII • To reward people for their sacrifices

7. What is a welfare state? • Government looks after their citizens from ‘cradle to grave’ E.g. of ‘cradle to grave’ benefits: maternity grant, child benefits • All citizens will have a minimum living standard – a job, a home & healthcare • All citizens contribute to a national fund to support the more needy people • What are the advantages and disadvantages of living under a welfare system?

8. What is the cartoonist trying to tell you about Beveridge’s plan?

9. Beveridge had a vision of social reconstruction • The five giants represented the key problems for the citizens – the problems where people should pool resources to tackle them together • Beveridge's five giants (problems) Want = adequate income for all Disease = healthcare Ignorance = educational opportunities Squalor = housing Idleness = gainful employment

10. Sample Answer The cartoonist thinks that Beveridge will have a tough time carrying out his plan as the problems he is facing are very big . This can been seen from the five giants in the source labeled “want”, “ignorance”, “disease”, “squalor” and “idleness” which represents the problems of the citizens. The giants are much bigger than Beveridge which shows that the problems are too big for him to handle. He has a hard time solving the problems as he only managed to prick the finger of the first giant with his sword.

11. Quick Check

12. Question 1: • How was the healthcare system in Britain before 20th Century? • Government encouraged citizens to save up so they would have money for healthcare • Medical services were poorly provided by the government • Citizens depend on the government, relatives and friends for healthcare expenses Answer: B

13. Question 2: • What was the important idea that William Beveridge proposed ‘The Beveridge Report’? • Safe and peaceful country • Welfare system • Stable government Answer: B

14. Question 3: • Which is not a characteristic of a welfare system? • All citizens will have a minimum living standard • Government looks after their citizens from ‘cradle to grave’ • All citizens have freedom of speech Answer: C

15. How is the idea of welfare system related to the healthcare system? • Government provide free basic medical service for all citizens • All medical services, dental and even optical treatments are free of charge • National Health Service (NHS) was set up to provide this free healthcare in 1948 • Do you prefer the healthcare system in Britain before the 20th century or theNHS system in the 1940s? Why?

16. Reading the following and find out if NHS is popular • extremely well-received as huge increase in demand for healthcare I arrived in the morning and the queue was from the door, down the street and disappeared into the next street. I think they came to see if they were going to have free medicine. It was a relief, particularly to women with young children who could not afford to see a doctor previously. – a hospital receptionist-

17. Popularity of NHS led to the 1st problem • As NHS was extremely well-received, this led to a huge increase in demand for healthcare • Government, doctors and staff were unable to cope with the increasing demand

18. 2nd problem of NHS • Doctors used / recommended medical treatment freely without much consideration for cost • Who do you think is responsible for bearing the cost of medical treatment? The doctors or the government? • Why do you think that the doctors did not consider the cost of the medical treatment before giving to the patients?

19. Changes to NHS to solve the problems from 1951 • Medical treatments and dental treatment became chargeable • E.g. • NHS charged a small fee for medicine given to patients • How do you think that the citizens would feel about the changes to NHS?

20. Quick Check II

21. Question 1: • NHS is part of the welfare system in Britain. Which of the following statement is true? • Government give priority to the poorer citizens • Government used to provide free basic medical service except for optical treatments • Dental treatments are free Answer: C

22. Question 2: • NHS faced 2 issues over the years. Which of the following statement is false? • Doctors gave medicines freely to patients • Hospital were over-staff and the government had to retrench them • There was an overwhelming demand for the services at NHS Answer: B

23. Question 3: • How did NHS solve the issues? Select the answer that is true. • Government asked the citizens to contribute more to the national fund • NHS referred patients to clinics if their conditions were not serious • NHS charged the patients for medical treatment Answer: C

24. Can you answer the following? • Explain how the National Health Service (NHS) came about • Explain what is a welfare state • Explain what is NHS • Explain the changes made to NHS