Paul Little is NIHR Senior Investigator and Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom

Primary Care in the United Kingdom

What do populations need?

Populations need equitable and efficient access to high-quality care, but such a statement reflects both cultural values and political context. The UK National Health Service (NHS) was launched in the early post-war years by the then minister of health, Mr. Aneurin Bevan, based on core principles: that it meet the needs of everyone; that it be free at the point of delivery; and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay. The NHS has been the centre of political debate since, and attempts to reform the NHS — particularly the market-based reforms starting in the 1990s — have been controversial. ...continue reading →