Public and Private NHS

Paper Summary:

The National Health Service (NHS) is a state run entity set up by the Labour government after 1948 as part of the welfare state, and is free at the point of entry for all patients regardless of income or health problem. It was originally run by local authorities with funding from public money allocated by central government. This paper discusses how in recent years this money has been moving to the private sector and many have speculated that this is privatisation by stealth. The paper attempts to understand this process by giving some historical context to the events of the last few decades while pointing out some of the advantages and disadvantages, and the forms it could take, of privatisation.

From the Paper:

"At the same time though because of the lack of reinvestment in the NHSs' infrastructure and Gordon Browns' adherence to EU spending targets, alternative funding methods must be found. A recent study by the Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP) (2007) showed the UK at 17th place, behind Ireland, Czech Republic and Estonia in provision of healthcare. Three countries a long way behind the economic development of the UK. In fact while per capita spending placed the UK in 12th place, the Czech Republic placed 21st showing that efficiency targets are possible if money is spent wisely. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• ANON, 2000, Kaisergate, [online] USA, Available from http://businesspractices.kaiserpapers.info/nixononkaiser.html [Accessed 25 October 2007]
• ANON, 2002, The slow privatisation of the NHS [online] UK, Available from http://www.healthmatters.org.uk/issue48/editorial [Accessed 25 October 2007]
• CANON, 2006, UK: A case for outsourcing?[online] UK. Available from http://store.eiu.com/product/1860000186-sample.html [Accessed 25 October 2007]
• CARVEL. J, 2005, Hewitt's offer to private health bidders revealed in secret papers [online] The Guardian. London, Available from http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1575243,00.html [Accessed 25 October 2007]
• GAFFNEY. D, POLLOCK. A, PRICE. D & SHAOUL. J, 1999, The private finance initiative, [online] UK, Available from http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/319/7204/249 [accessed 25 October 2007]

More papers on Public and Private NHS:

• Case Study # 135169 : "Public and Private Sector Budgeting"
• Comparison Essay # 72730 : "Public And Private Management"
• Term Paper # 111392 : "Banking Umbilical Cord Blood"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: