| The National Health Service (NHS) was established in 1948. It is a public-funded organisation that provides healthcare services to people in the UK. |
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This section provides an overview of NHS services including:
About the NHS
The NHS is funded by the taxpayer and managed by the Department of Health, which sets the overall policies on health issues. The department has control of England’s ten Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs), which oversee NHS activities in England. In turn, each SHA is responsible for the strategic supervision of all the NHS trusts in its area. NHS services in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are managed separately and differ slightly in terms of cost and the treatments are covered.
If you are ordinarily a resident in the UK, or if you live in a European Economic Area (EEA) country, you have the right to free NHS treatment.
Services
Not all services provided by the NHS are free of charge. Unless exempt, patients pay subsidised, fixed costs for prescriptions, sight tests, NHS glasses and dental treatment. Hospital treatment, the ambulance service, and medical consultations remain free.
In response to public demand, in April 2008 the NHS underwent a change in patient care. Patients referred to see a specialist are now - wherever possible - can choose to receive treatment from any hospital that meets NHS standards. Location, standards of treatment and waiting lists are all factors that can affect a patient’s decision.