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An economic perspective on the history of the National Health Service in England

Author

Listed:
  • John Buckell

    (Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds)

  • Andrew Smith

    (Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds)

  • Roberta Longo

    (Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds)

  • Claire Hulme

    (Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds)

Abstract

This paper examines government spending and economic issues related to health care services, with a particular focus on the National Health Service (NHS) in England. We begin by discussing the formation of the NHS according to noteworthy economic and political themes. We then move to a brief discussion of health care system models to make clear the NHS’s position amongst its peers. We then take an overview of key economic themes throughout the course of the NHS’s 70 year history. Next is the focal issue of expenditure. We discuss pre-NHS costs, before moving to the progression of NHS costs over its lifetime. We finally discuss economic reasons for changes in health care costs, and conclude the article by suggesting that natural rises in health care costs over time imply that efficiency is crucial for policy makers, both in the NHS context and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • John Buckell & Andrew Smith & Roberta Longo & Claire Hulme, 2015. "An economic perspective on the history of the National Health Service in England," Working Papers 1503, Academic Unit of Health Economics, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds.
    • Handle: RePEc:lee:wpaper:1503
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    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/file/1793/auhe_wp1503
    File Function: First version, 2015
    Download Restriction: no
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    National Health Service; history; expenditure; health policy; efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General

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