UK is proud of the NHS but worried for its future
New data shows 3 in 4 people think the NHS won't be fully free forever
As the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary, new data shows that while many of us are proud of the National Health Service, we're also concerned for its future.
New polling data from Ipsos and the Health Foundation, a charity campaigning for better healthcare, shows 54% of the people said the NHS is what makes them most proud to be British.
The NHS being free at the point of use, affordable and paid for via tax (55%) is the aspect that makes people most proud, followed by being available to all and treating everyone equally (36%).
However, despite the pridein the service there were soem concerns for the future of the NHS, the survey showed 3 in 4 believe the NHS’s principle of ‘free at the point of delivery’ will be eroded to at least some extent over the next 10 years.
Half (51%) expect to pay for some services currently free at point of use, while 13% think most services will need to be paid for upfront and 7% anticipate charges for all services (eg, consultation fees).
The data revealed the public were also pessimistic about the NHS’s ability to meet key future challenges:
- 77% believe the NHS is not prepared to meet the increasing health demands of an ageing population
- 61% believe the NHS is not prepared to respond to the impacts of climate change
- 51% believe the NHS is not prepared to keep up with new technologies to improve patient care
Tim Gardner, Assistant Director for Policy at the Health Foundation, said:
‘After 75 years, the NHS remains fundamental to what it means to be British – but there is real concern among the public about whether the principles on which the health service was founded will endure.
‘People’s concern about the current state of the health service should not be interpreted as an appetite for radical change to its founding principles. Our polling consistently shows that the public wants a better health service, that can respond to changing health needs and continue to provide equitable access for all
The history of the NHS
NHS is established
The National Health Service was formally established in 1948 at what is now Trafford General Hospital in Manchester. The service was started by Aneurin Bevan under the government of Clement Atlee. Its aim was to create a system of free healthcare to all. One of the first patients was Sylvia Diggory, aged 13, who was suffering from a liver condition.
Prescription charges introduced
Soon after its inception, charges for prescriptions and dental care were introduced. Each prescription would cost one shilling, while dental care would require a £1 payment. Charges would eventually be dropped and then reinstated in 1968.
NHS discoveries
Throughout the 1950s, thanks to the pioneering technology the NHS was using, a number of medical advancements were made. Polio vaccinations were rolled out in the UK, the structure of DNA was found and the link between smoking and cancer was proven.
Treating new diseases
As time went on and the NHS grew, so did its capacity to look after those who were unable to be treated before. The Mental Health Act in 1983 was the first time the concept of consent was raised in treating those with mental health issues. Nurses also treated people suffering from AIDS in the late 1980s and, together with the government, helped to reduce the stigma of the disease, which primarily affected gay men.
Opening to the public
In order to cope with the increasing demand for the NHS, the structure of the service changed. In 1991, NHS Trusts were established in the first of a wave of reorganisation for the service. People would later be able to donate organs more easily with the introduction of the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Stretched resources
In the 21st century, the NHS came under pressure as a result of stretched resources. With the rising cost of medicines, the government voted to bring in longer working hours and minimal increases in pay for NHS staff in 2015. This resulted in a mass picket of junior doctors around the country for better working conditions. It was the first general strike in the NHS' history and the first instance of industrial action in 40 years. There have been further strikes in 2023
NHS during coronavirus
In 2020, a new disease named COVID-19 began to spread around the world, eventually reaching the UK at the end of January. The resulting pandemic led to NHS workers being on the frontline of the disease. Support for the NHS grew massively and during lockdowns, so-called "Claps for Carers" would take place every Thursday to thank the NHS and its staff for protecting the public during the pandemic.