National Health Service

The National Health Service (NHS) is based upon the principle that there should be a com­prehensive range of publicly provided services designed to help the individual stay healthy and to provide effective and appropriate treatment and care where necessary while making the best use of available resources. All taxpayers, employers and employees contribute to its cost so that those members of the community who do not require health care help to pay for those who do. Some forms of treatment, such as hospital care, are provided free; others may be charged for.

Growth in real spending on the health service is being used to meet the needs of increasing numbers of elderly people; to take full advantage of advances in professional associations are the British Medical Association and the British Dental Association.

The minimum period of training required to qualify for registration as a first level nurse in general, mental or mental handicapped nursing (and sick children's nursing in Scotland) is normally three years. Registration as a nurse at the second level (enrolled nurse) takes two years (in Scotland — 8 months). Midwifery training for registered general nurses takes 18 months, and for other student midwives in England three years. Health visitors are registered general nurses with midwifery or approved obstetric experience who have successfully completed a one-year course in health visiting. District nurses are registered general nurses who have successful­ly completed a six-month course followed by a period of supervised practice in district nursing. The examining bodies for all nurses, midwives and health visitors are the National Boards for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting established in England, Scotland, Wales and North­ern Ireland. The regulation and registration of these professions is the responsibility of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

Pharmacists in general practice and in hospital must be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.. A three-year de­gree course approved by the Pharmaceutical Society followed by a year's approved training is necessary before registration. The majority of medicines can be sold or dispensed only by, or under the supervision of, a registered pharmacist.

The General Optical Council regulates the professions of ophthalmic optician and dispens­ing optician; only registered ophthalmic opticians (or registered medical practitioners) may test sight. Training of ophthalmic opticians takes four years including a year of practical expe­rience under supervision. Dispensing opticians take a two-year full-time course with a year's practical experience or a part-time day-release course while employed with an optician.

State registration may be obtained by chiropodists, dietitians, medical laboratory scientific officers, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists and radiographers. The govern­ing bodies are seven boards, corresponding to the professions, under the general supervision of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. Training lasts one to four years and only those who are state registered may be employed in the National Health Service and some other public services.

Dental therapists (who have undergone a two-year training course) and dental hygienists (who have undergone a training course of about a year) may carry out some simple dental work under the direction of a registered dentist.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14