4e2engss_historian-gohjmyWFM

7pm 6/4/09

2009-06-04T03:51:00.001-07:00

SBQ ON NHS
Issue: How far does NHS benefit Britain today?

Background Information:

The National Health Service (NHS) is the name of a socially funded healthcare service, providing healthcare to anyone normally resident in the United Kingdom with most services free at the point of use for the patient though there are charges associated with eye tests, dental care, prescriptions, and many aspects of personal care. The NHS is largely funded from general taxation. Most of the expenditure of The Department of Health (£98.7 billion in 2008-9) is spent on the NHS.PM Margaret Thatcher introduced measures such as reducing subsidies in order to make NHS more sustainable for the government, privatization to increase efficiency and the introduction of several services such as NHS Direct which improved the quality of NHS. Success is shown as the aims are met: reducing dependency on the government and sustainability.

Source A A cartoon drawn by a Briton , commenting on the services provided by the NHS.

Source B A comment made by Sir Nigel Crisp, NHS Chief Executive in his annual report

Sir Nigel said the health service was working "more effectively and more efficiently", although he acknowledged more needs to be done."We are beginning to see a really big change in the NHS," he said. The report suggests that there have been major improvements, 98% of patients are now able to see their GP or practice nurses within 24 hours, 94% of patients are now seen and treated in A&E within four hours. "Waiting times have fallen faster and further this year than ever before," Sir Nigel said. "More staff have been recruited and more buildings and equipment brought into use."

Source C A current nurse advisor in the NHS in an interview

What is the best thing about your job?

Talking to and helping people and, of course, my wonderful colleagues.

Describe yourself

Outgoing, gregarious, content.

What is the best thing about you?

I can be relied upon to do what I say I am going to do.

Source D A cartoon drawn by a Briton on the services provided by NHS

7pm 4/6/09

2009-06-04T03:50:00.001-07:00

Questions
(a) What does the cartoonist thinks of the NHS? Explain, using the details of the cartoon. (5)

(b) How different are Source B and C? Explain (7)

(c) How far does Source D supports Source C in showing the positive attitude of the NHS personnel? (6)

(d) Do all sources prove that NHS generally benefits Britain? Explain. (7)

4pm 04/06/2009

2009-06-04T01:05:00.001-07:00

Link to ppt:

http://www.2shared.com/file/6096374/2a29db37/ss_chap3_Managing_Healthcare.html

click to view (bottom right hand corner) press the 'click here' function

12pm 29/05/2009

2009-05-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

Cartoons for managing healthcare (generic ones)

06/04/2009 9.40pm

2009-04-06T06:35:00.001-07:00

http://www.2shared.com/file/5265439/d97ef7a2/ss_chap3_Managing_Healthcare.html

Link to ppt

(press the 'click here' option at the bottoom of the page)

06/04/2009 9.35pm

2009-04-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Video on SG healthcare -- by Minister Khaw Boon Wan

9.30pm 06/04/2009

2009-04-06T06:24:00.000-07:00

Video on NHS- Speech by PM Brown recently

06/04/2009 9.30pm

2009-04-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

Video on NHS -- Original Aims

9.15pm 06/04/2009

2009-04-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

SEQS on Chapter 3 Managing Health care

Q1 This question is on Singapore’s management of health care

“Singapore’s healthcare policies benefited the people.” Do you agree? Explain your answer.

In my own opinion, I agree to a large extent as people generally receives affordable healthcare and the cost is well managed by the govt and the people.
I agree that there are benefits as the people are self-reliant, which is very important as it ensures that the people and the govt can manage the costs of health care in the long run. This is achieved through implementing Medisave and Medishield, where people regularly contribute to these 2 schemes which will help them in their payment of medical bills. In other words, they are practicing self-responsibility. The govt will intervene when people cannot pay despite having these 2 schemes, through means-testing, where the right amount of subsidies is given to the right person and through Medifund, which are contributed by the govt to help those who cannot afford their bills by helping them pay the balance. Hence, the govt will not be burdened with a high cost like Britain.
Our life expectancy rates are among the highest in the world, which is partly due to the people’s efforts in having a healthy lifestyle in order to lower the cost of medical care. This will also be due to increased govt efforts in promoting a healthy lifestyles.
But, however, it must also be noted that medical costs have risen and there are still some people who cannot afford the cost of health care. More ’C’ class wards have to be provided so that the poor can be provided with medical services.
However, I think that it is more of a benefit as the policies benefited the majority, esp. with the concept of self-reliance, which cannot be seen in other countries. People will take responsibility of their health together with the govt and they will put in effort to stay healthy in order to avoid paying for medical treatment

Q2 This question is on Britain’s management of health care

“The welfare state was a success”. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

I disagree as I think that it is more of a failure when it is considered in the long term
It is successful in the short term, when it just started after WW2. It was popular with the people and long queues were seen everyday. People’s support for the govt increased and they recovered very quickly from the devastation brought by the war, physically and mentally. More importantly, it catered also to the poverty, which stands a majority because of the war , by providing free services.
As time goes by, problems soon occurred. Low efficiency were seen, directly from the long queues, and the facilities could not cope with the rising demand. Govt spending increased because of the higher demand and it soon became a burden to the govt. More seriously, people had dependence on the govt instead of being self-reliant before the war, which meant that subsidizes could not be lifted as it will cause social unrest and the govt will lose support.
Hence, it is a failure more of a success, Due to the abuse by the people, problems cropped out and the usefulness became limited. Originally the aims of a Welfare State was to help the people but in the long run it harmed the people; the govt increased spending whilst the people became dependent on the state. Hence, the govt shifted away from this welfare system in 1979.

03/04/2009 12.18pm

2009-04-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

2nd writing

Global warming was caused by the trapping of heat in the surroundings which causes the atmosphere around earth to have a hole. It had limited the air from escaping into the space. Poor science knowledge of men in the past, had cause the hole to be deepen and could lead to a devastating impact on the world in future.

Today, scientific researches had been done to conserve our planet. However, we still need more researches and studies to deepen everyone’s knowledge regarding global warming and ways to save it.

I believe scientific researches to limit greenhouse gases had to be conducted continuously to invent new eco-friendly things and used worldwide. We’ve got to spread the ideology of going green throughout the world for the comfort of every living organisms in the world. Methods of preventing diseases cause by global warming like skin cancer et cetera, to spread around the world. It especially important as we might be killed earlier and harsher than the overall impact that’s going to be caused by the global warming.

Energy-conserving, durable systems made from cheap materials could be invented by the science experts to help save the world as people would prefer to buy things that are cheaper rather than spending a bomb for something’s that’s not important.

In fact from now to the near future, more science-related education should be conducted worldwide and IT-energy saving materials and system could be invented to the comfort of the people,. It would also limit the amount of greenhouse effects from happening. With modern technology, things would be made easier to provide comfort to every living organism as well as the environment sustainability.

In future, it would be best if we could produce eco friendly-petrol related substances that are cheap and biodegradable. It would also be environment friendly and a good way to conserve the beauty of nature and bring in more joy and comfort to every living things worldwide.

03/04/2009 12.15pm

2009-04-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

1st writing for competition, 2009 International Essay Contest for young people

"the role of science in building a better world"

Medicine is the art of healing. It includes health care practices, which improves itself constantly through human intervention, to maintain and restore health by preventing and treatment of illnesses.

In the past, people made use of plants, animal parts and minerals to heal themselves from illnesses. Surgery was started unknowingly during the Later-Han period, by the talent physician Hua Tuo. So we can see that people in the past already knew the need and importance to cure and heal.

However, as more viruses developed through the years, medicine technology too improved. Perspectives changed during the Black Death in Europe during the 14th and 15th century, as people realized the need to promote the use of chemistry to create cures for major illnesses such as tuberculosis. During this period, most cures relieved the symptoms of illnesses rather then curing it, and they did not consider the possible side effects.

Today, medicine technology is still undergoing constant improvement, with efforts put in by several medical institutions. Many countries also placed importance in providing efficient healthcare services to the people. Singapore is one of the examples, by implementing policies such as Medisave to lower the cost of healthcare services, thus making healthcare affordable for Singaporeans and so, good health will be sustained. This is important, as healthy Singaporeans will mean a stronger and more united Singapore. Other countries such as Malaysia should learn from the Singapore model as it proved to be successful.

In today’s world, most illnesses and diseases are curable, such as fever, and some of them are controlled, such as high blood pressure. But, there are still some incurable diseases such as AIDS. These incurable diseases have a huge impact on the world today and it will affect the lives of many to a considerable extent. Africa is one continent which is plagued with diseases. With these diseases, they will not be able to lead their lives normally like others in the world, and something must be done, in order to improve their lives. In general, research must be continued on these incurable diseases, so that cures and vaccines can be developed to tackle these diseases.

In my opinion, in the future, people should have more cooperation with each other, and this is made easier with globalization. With better cooperation, knowledge and ideas relating to medicine can be exchanged and so vaccines and cures can be developed faster, saving people from suffering faster. With effective cures and vaccines, we will be able to overcome illnesses and lead a better life.