What Would the NHS Look Like If It Took Health Promotion Seriously?

Details: Published on Monday, 10 August 2020 03:02; Written by editor

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A Socialist Project e-bulletin ... No. 2165 ... August 10, 2020
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What Would the NHS Look Like If It Took Health Promotion Seriously?

Collective 20

On Sunday, July 5, 2020, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wished it a happy 72nd birthday. Spitfires flew over in celebration and buildings were lit up in blue as people poured out into the streets at 5 p.m. to clap in appreciation of Britain’s favorite institution. We’re talking, of course, about the National Health Service (NHS).

The NHS, it seems, is loved by everybody. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the public have consistently shown their appreciation for the NHS staff with public displays of "thank you NHS" art and coordinated nation-wide rounds of applause. More generally and consistently, the NHS is also celebrated by the Left.

The reasons for this are both historical and ideological. The NHS was founded in 1948 by the Labour Party and based on the following three principles; (1) to meet the needs of everyone, (2) to be free at the point of delivery, (3) and to be based on clinical need, not ability to... pay. This, of course, was part of the broader program of establishing a welfare state.