Abstract
Since its inception on the fifth of July 1948, over 75 years ago, the National Health Service in the UK has evolved and continuously expanded to provide healthcare to the entire population. Following several reforms, adaptations and modernisation, the system has consequently become intricately complex and comprised of a vast amount of organisations which at times could be difficult to comprehend especially if you form part of the front-line providers. The onset of its creation was the publication of The National Health Service Act 1946 followed by its launch in 1948. This chapter aims at simplifying the structure of the health service and its various organisations, how healthcare services are commissioned and the hospital structures.
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Further Readings
Department of Health (2015a) The government’s mandate to NHS England for 2016–2017–mandate. www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/05.PB_.17.12.15-Annex-A-Mandate-to-NHS-England.pdf. Accessed December 2019
Department of Health (2015b) The NHS constitution for England–guidance. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/480482/NHS_Constitution_WEB.pdf. Accessed December 2019
Monitor (2012) NHS foundation trust governors and directors: working better together–documents and guidance. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285965/Monitor_-_Director_govenor_interaction_report_June_2012_0.pdf. Accessed December 2019
Monitor (2014) Governance reviews for NHS foundation trusts–documents and guidance. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294114/GovernanceReview14Jan13.pdf. Accessed December 2018
Monitor (2013) Your statutory duties–A reference guide for NHS foundation trust governors. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284473/Governors_guide_August_2013_UPDATED_NOV_13.pdf. Accessed January 2019
NHS England (2014) Understanding the new NHS–a guide for everyone working and training within the NHS–policy. https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/about/Documents/simple-nhs-guide.pdf. Accessed January 2019
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Abela, S. (2023). The Structure of the NHS. In: Leadership and Management in Healthcare. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21025-9_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21025-9_1
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