The United Kingdom's health is of increasing concern. So, what is being done to improve health in the United Kingdom? Here are some programmes and policies put in place.
national health service (nhs)
Public healthcare funding in the UK is made available through the National Healthcare Service (NHS). The Department of Health is the central government body that is responsible for policies on the NHS. Established in 1948, the NHS was based on the principle that good health care should be available to all with access based on need, not financial wealth. Before this, health care was only available to the wealthy, unless one could find charity hospitals. With the exception of some charges, such as prescriptions and optical and dental services, the NHS in England remains free for anyone who is a UK resident. So, more than 64.1 million people in the UK are beneficiaries of this service.
The NHS deals with more than 1 million people every 36 hours, covering everything from screenings to treatments for long-term conditions to transplants. In a 2014 study, comparing the healthcare system of UK and 10 other countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the US), the NHS was found to be the most impressive of all. It was rated as the best in terms of efficiency, effective care, safe care, co-ordinated care, patient-centred care and cost-related problems, and also ranked second for equity.
As a result of the implementation of various policies, indicators show that the health of the population has improved over the last decades. For example, life expectancy at birth increased by 5.1 years for women, between 1981 and 2008, and 6.9 years for men during the same period. Mortality rates have declined for most major disease categories, primarily with diseases such as respiratory, cancer, and circulatory disease. Infant mortality declined from 14.2 per 1000 live births in 1976 to 4.7 in 2008, while perinatal mortality rate fell from 17.6 deaths per 1000 live births to 7.6 over the same period.
Similar to many developed cities, however, the UK is plagued by a host of issues, such as, increased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related deaths, obesity in adults and children, as well as the prevalence of smoking. Such issues are either preventable or addressed through education, treatment, research - achievable through the government setting aside sufficient budget on healthcare expenditure.
The NHS deals with more than 1 million people every 36 hours, covering everything from screenings to treatments for long-term conditions to transplants. In a 2014 study, comparing the healthcare system of UK and 10 other countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the US), the NHS was found to be the most impressive of all. It was rated as the best in terms of efficiency, effective care, safe care, co-ordinated care, patient-centred care and cost-related problems, and also ranked second for equity.
As a result of the implementation of various policies, indicators show that the health of the population has improved over the last decades. For example, life expectancy at birth increased by 5.1 years for women, between 1981 and 2008, and 6.9 years for men during the same period. Mortality rates have declined for most major disease categories, primarily with diseases such as respiratory, cancer, and circulatory disease. Infant mortality declined from 14.2 per 1000 live births in 1976 to 4.7 in 2008, while perinatal mortality rate fell from 17.6 deaths per 1000 live births to 7.6 over the same period.
Similar to many developed cities, however, the UK is plagued by a host of issues, such as, increased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related deaths, obesity in adults and children, as well as the prevalence of smoking. Such issues are either preventable or addressed through education, treatment, research - achievable through the government setting aside sufficient budget on healthcare expenditure.
HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE
Funding
for healthcare expenditure is primarily covered by government funding
(85%), via taxation, while the remaining 15% is covered by the private
sector. Private insurance is typically accessed through employer groups
or by richer people seeking additional benefits who access the carrier
directly. Every year, the amount of money spent on healthcare
increases. In 1997, 54.9 billion pounds was spent on it, which
increased to 150.6 billion pounds in 2013. Relative to the G7 group of
large high-income economies, the UK has the highest percentage of
healthcare expenditure derived from the private sector.
Since an increasing amount of money has been spent on healthcare over these years, the death rates have been dropping, from 2% of total population over the period of 1901 to 1% from the period of 2001. This co-relation is not surprising as healthcare expenditures influences health status via improving life expectancy, reducing death and infant mortality rates. Medical advancements have also helped in prolonging the life span of people in the UK.
Since an increasing amount of money has been spent on healthcare over these years, the death rates have been dropping, from 2% of total population over the period of 1901 to 1% from the period of 2001. This co-relation is not surprising as healthcare expenditures influences health status via improving life expectancy, reducing death and infant mortality rates. Medical advancements have also helped in prolonging the life span of people in the UK.
EXAMPLES OF HEALTHCARE POLICIES IMPLEMENTED IN THE UK
(i) smoke-free England law
In July 2007, the UK government passed a new law, making it illegal for anyone to smoke in an enclosed area and within the workplace. This ensured that everyone could go about their daily lives with minimum exposure to second-hand smoke.
Actually, even before this law was implemented, many businesses banned indoor smoking. Tobacco advertising had been banned in UK. This started with a ban on advertising of cigarettes in 1965, followed by a complete ban on all forms of advertising in 2005 which promotes cigarettes or the act of smoking in general.
As part of this, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Network Rail introduced an extended ban. This ban did not permit commuters to smoke within the railway station, regardless of whether they were enclosed or not. Since then, electronic cigarettes have also been banned.
This law had a visibly significant impact on the health and death rate in United Kingdom. According to a review carried out by Professors Linda Bauld and the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, there was a 2.4% reduction in the number of hospital admissions for myocardian infarction.
Actually, even before this law was implemented, many businesses banned indoor smoking. Tobacco advertising had been banned in UK. This started with a ban on advertising of cigarettes in 1965, followed by a complete ban on all forms of advertising in 2005 which promotes cigarettes or the act of smoking in general.
As part of this, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Network Rail introduced an extended ban. This ban did not permit commuters to smoke within the railway station, regardless of whether they were enclosed or not. Since then, electronic cigarettes have also been banned.
This law had a visibly significant impact on the health and death rate in United Kingdom. According to a review carried out by Professors Linda Bauld and the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, there was a 2.4% reduction in the number of hospital admissions for myocardian infarction.
What is myocardian infarction?
Myocardian infarction is a medical condition partially caused by smoking, which often results in death.
Myocardian infarction is a medical condition partially caused by smoking, which often results in death.
Another study proved that there was a statistically significant rise in the number of smokers attempting to quit smoking altogether. At the time of legislation, up to 30 000 people tried to quit smoking. A study of bar workers also showed that their respiratory health had greatly improved after the implementation of the laws.
From here, it is clear that the number of deaths and potential deaths from smoking were greatly reduced. Since the number of people from the working population dying from smoking-related diseases was reduced, there were less premature deaths, thus balancing out the population pyramid more.
From here, it is clear that the number of deaths and potential deaths from smoking were greatly reduced. Since the number of people from the working population dying from smoking-related diseases was reduced, there were less premature deaths, thus balancing out the population pyramid more.
(ii) change4life programme
Implemented by the Department of Health, this programme aimed to provide advice to people in their diets and physical exercise. Companies were encouraged to improve labeling on their products to help people make healthier choices. A consistent front of pack labelling system was put into place, to ensure that it was clear what the contents in the items were. Businesses were also encouraged to include calorie information on their menus, so people could make healthier choices.
Early results showed that families were changing their behaviours. 30% of mothers who saw the advertising claimed to have changed at least one thing in their children's diets as a direct result of Change4Life. Despite the fact that obesity rates were still high, the number of estimated deaths in the UK due to obesity dropped in 2010, a year after the programme was put in place.
To find out more about the Change4Life Programme, click here.
To find out more about the Change4Life Programme, click here.
(iii) POLICY on Children's HEALTH
The purpose of this, is to look at the children's health right from the start, that is, from the time of conception to birth, by providing women a positive experience during maternity care, and the best possible service for women and their babies. They ensure that there is a single, named midwife who will oversee their care during pregnancy and after birth; they ensure that women who have postnatal depression and women who have suffered a miscarriage or the death of a baby gets the necessary support from the relevant healthcare experts. Parents from low-income families are given vouchers to spend on milk, fruits, and other health products, to ensure that they do not miss out on the necessary nutrition due to financial difficulties.
Children will be screened regularly, and immunisation provided to protect them from serious diseases. To ensure that they stay healthy, parents are provided information on diets and recommended physical activities. Studies have found that people who are overweight have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and certain cancers. By addressing this early, NHS can avoid being faced with health problems associated with being overweight, which costs NHS more than 5 billion pounds a year.
Children will be screened regularly, and immunisation provided to protect them from serious diseases. To ensure that they stay healthy, parents are provided information on diets and recommended physical activities. Studies have found that people who are overweight have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and certain cancers. By addressing this early, NHS can avoid being faced with health problems associated with being overweight, which costs NHS more than 5 billion pounds a year.
impact of healthcare policies on birth rates
Healthcare expenditure has increased 3-fold from 1997 to 2012. In spite of this, UK birth rates dipped between 2001 and 2002, climbed up steadily up since then, and seem to have plateaued in the recent years to around 12.8 per 1000. This does not necessarily imply that healthcare policies are wasted efforts. In turn, it could mean that such expenditures are required to sustain the birth rates, by overcoming other obstacles that may have come up, in deterring women to have more children. Such issues are not uncommon amongst urbanized cities, such as the more educated putting off having children till they are older, or the health issues that plague the better-heeled societies.