National Health Servicen.
/ˌnaʃn̩(ə)l ˈhɛlθ ˌsəːvɪs/, /ˌnaʃən(ə)l ˈhɛlθ ˌsəːvɪs/, U.S. /ˌnæʃən(ə)l ˈhɛlθ ˌsərvəs/, /ˌnæʃn(ə)l ˈhɛlθ ˌsərvəs/ The system of state provision of medical services in the United Kingdom, established in 1946; abbreviated N.H.S.The system is funded largely through taxation, although patient fees are charged for certain services.In 1974 the system was reorganized into three main branches: a public health service, hospital and specialist services, and a framework for general practice provided by independent contractors. The 1990 National Health Service and Community Care Act allowed for the devolution of financial control to individual units, in the form of hospital trusts, etc.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medical services and administration > [noun] > health service
health service1935
National Health Service1946
NHS1948
national health1952
Medicare1953
Medicaid1966
Medibank1974
1884 Science 7 Nov. 441/2 It was the sense of the committee that the national government should maintain a national health service.]
1946 Act 9 & 10 Geo. VI c. 81 (title) National Health Service Act.
1958 Listener 30 Oct. 699/2 The workings of the National Health Service.
1967 J. M. Argyle Psychol. Interpersonal Behaviour ix. 174 This [sc. counselling] is the most widely practised kind of psychotherapy—it is given by National Health Service psychiatrists in England.
1986 P. D. James Taste for Death ii. ii. 110 Lady Beroume then registered with me under the National Health Service.
2000 Times 20 Jan. 37/1 Rarely have relations between Labour and its proudest achievement, the National Health Service, been so poor.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1946