Explore Britain

Health

The United Kingdom's National Health Service, which is available free to all, started in 1948. Both Papworth Hospital in Cambridge and Harefield Hospital in London are famous for transplant surgery, the former having carried out the first combined heart, lung and liver transplant in 1986. The world's first 'test-tube' baby was born in the UK in 1978. There is a growing emphasis on the prevention of illness through health education programmes. Statistics for 1972 show that 52% of men and 41% of women smoked cigarettes. By 1996-97 these figures had fallen to 29% for men and 28%for women. On a typical day 750,000 people visit their doctor and 500,000 prescriptions will be dispensed by pharmacies.

Picture: 'Meals on Wheels', a service for the elderly and housebound Royal Women's Voluntary Service

Welfare

On average British men live for 74 years and women for 79 years, compared with 49 and 52 years 100 years ago. People are living longer because of better diet, improvements in medical care, and better working and living conditions. A state retirement pension is payable to women at the age of 60 and to men at the age of 65, although legislation to equalise the state pension at 65 (phased in over 10 years from 2010) has been passed. Over 10 million people receive a retirement pension. Around a third of all public money is spent on social welfare for the elderly, sick, disabled, unemployed and people on low incomes.

 

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