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The National Health Service, or NHS, is a publically funded system of healthcare in England; it is completely segregated from the three other systems of national health that operate within the UK (in Scotland, Wales and Ireland). These other systems are responsible to their own governments, and have evolved beneath different regimes, which has resulted in vastly different forms of practice and management. Although separately run, all four healthcare systems do co-operate and they generally show no bias towards servicing patients from their own areas.
Being the major provider of healthcare in England, the NHS is directly responsible for all facets of public health, although some forms of healthcare, such as dentistry, are undertaken on a contract basis by private doctors. Passed on the 5th July 1948, the National Health Service act was the initial impetus behind the creation of the NHS. Running parallel with the NHS are the providers of private healthcare, although only around 8% of the populace use its services. Private healthcare organisations mainly provide healthcare for people who have health insurance policies.
Almost all NHS services are freely provided, from initial point of contact, through to hospital treatment and any associated outpatient requirements (medication etc) there is no charge. Although some medication may incur a nominal prescription fee. Costing in excess of 104 billion pounds to run during 2007, almost all NHS costs are funded by general taxation.
The NHS is an enormous organisation; it is the largest healthcare agency in the world, and sits at number 3 on the list of the world's largest employers.
The NHS has been under scrutiny over recent years for overspending, which some believe will ultimately lead to the total demise of free healthcare in Britain.
Here are some useful sites to try
The UK NHS
Teeth whitening kits - Dentistry
Age Concern - Help the aged