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British Life and Culture

by Mandy Barrow

 
 
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British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales
Health Care in Britain
 

National Health Service

The National Health Service (NHS), which was established in 1948, provides (almost) free health care to all. The finance comes mostly from general taxation (81 percent), plus some from the national insurance contributions (12 percent) - paid by both employee and employer - and 7 percent from other charges.

Use of the NHS is largely free but certain things have to be paid for, for example eye tests, dental treatment and drug prescription charges. When you visit your doctor or hospital you have to pay only for the medicines. However certain groups (low income groups, children, people over the age of 60, pregnant women and people with certain illnesses) are exempt from charges. If you need to stay in hospital there is no charge for treatment or medicines.

Doctors

Family doctors in Britain are known as General Practioners, and usually called GPs. When you are ill, and it is not an emergency, you go first to your local doctor. If necessary, the doctor will refer you to hospital to see a consultant for more specialised treatment.

Private Treatment

People in England can pay to have treatment via private consultants at the many private hospitals. Alternative medicine, i.e. reflexology, osteopathy, aromatherapy, acupunture etc. is mostly private but sometimes available on the NHS.

For more information please visit

History of the Healthcare Service

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All the materials on these pages are free for homework and classroom use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from the Mandy Barrow.

© Copyright Mandy Barrow 2014

Mandy is the creator of the Woodlands Resources section of the Woodlands Junior website. 
The two websites projectbritain.com and primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk are the new homes for the Woodlands Resources.

Mandy left Woodlands in 2003 to work in Kent schools as an ICT Consultant.
She now teaches computers at The Granville School and St. John's Primary School in Sevenoaks Kent.

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