The Cost of Healthcare in the UK

Our recent blog, The NHS – our National Illness Service suggested that GPs make more effort to embrace social prescribing which is not only better for the patient, but also better for the NHS. When you look at the cost of various elements of NHS healthcare as shown in the infographic below, it certainly makes that argument even more pertinent.

We need to stop costing the NHS as much

We all know that the NHS in in crisis, but it is difficult to see how the financial issues can ever stabilise. Because unless a large percentage off the general public really does start to improve their health and wellbeing in a more natural, holistic way that doesn’t rely unduly on medications and doctors and hospital visits, our ageing society is going to create an unbearble burden on the NHS. But that is only part of the problem. There are two other quite obvious factors to consdier.

More babies, more people

Firstly, our population is increasing dramatically. And while people might not be having as many children these days, a big population increase seems nonetheless both inevitable and unstoppable. I certainly wouldn’t suggest that we are legally limited to the number of children we bring in to this world!!

Medical science is amazing

Many of us are in awe of the rapid developments in medical science. Babies surviving that are born weighing less than a can of beans; complex heart surgery that is now almost commonplace; hip replacements on demand; improved cancer treatments; organ replacements; miracle developments in plastic surgery including prosthetic limbs and body parts. The list is endless. But as medical science discovers increasingly more ways to keep us alive and functioning effectively, so costs will continue to soar. In this respect, the NHS could be a victim of its own success!

So do check out the infographic provided by Pharmacy Outlet and think how you can help yourself rather than popping down to the doctor’s surgery………

Provided by Pharmacy Outlet

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