Prioritizing clinical care in the cash-strapped NHS

The National Health Service (NHS) was born in out of three ideals: it was to provide a comprehensive healthcare to the general public, that was universal in its coverage and it was to be free at the point of delivery. The financial burden of the NHS has risen exponentially since its conception in 1948. It has failed to realize the ideals from when it was created. Unrestricted access to healthcare is an impossible ideal in any system, but specifically within the NHS, which is funded almost exclusively through public funds. Resources are finite, resulting in the rationing or prioritizing of healthcare resources. Within this paper we outline some of the current strategies employed and the basic ethical precepts involved in the prioritization of healthcare provision within the financial limitations of the NHS.