The changing nature of healthcare in the UK

The NHS had much to celebrate when it reached its 70th birthday in July 2018, having made incredible achievements since its inception in 1948. However, with a much larger (and older) population now than when it was created, there is now ever-increasing pressure on the resources of the NHS.

Increasing demand has meant that many patients are now finding that NHS treatment for common conditions such as varicose veins, hernias and haemorrhoids is no longer available. Most of us have understandably grown up with the expectation of free healthcare, but perhaps with changing times, this is no longer such a realistic expectation. We may have to accept that, on occasion, we will have to take responsibility for our own healthcare, to allow others with more critical needs to receive NHS care.