| The English National Health Service was created in 1948 and is committed to providing good healthcare available to all. The National Health Service is publicly funded and as such is politically accountable to the United Kingdom Government in England. The United Kingdom Government department responsible for the National Health Service is the Department of Health which is headed by the Secretary of State.
The National Health Service Website gives more details on the three core principles that guide the service; |
| 1. that it meet the needs of everyone, |
| 2. that it be free at the point of delivery, and |
| 3. that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay. |
| The Department of Health controls 10 Strategic Health Authorities in England which are responsible for implementing national policy and directives in their region and the strategic supervision of services. Services are commissioned at a local level by organisations such as Primary Care Trusts, NHS Hospital Trusts and NHS Care Trusts. Most funds are held by the Primary Care Trusts who commission services such as General Practise, Optometry, Dentistry and Hospitals. |
