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The name National Health Service is used to refer to the free public health services of England, Scotland and Wales, individually or collectively. Northern Ireland’s services are known as 'Health and Social Care' to promote its dual integration of health and social services.
For details of the history of each National Health Service, particularly since 1999, see:
The NHS was one of the first universal health care systems established anywhere in the world. A leaflet was sent to every household in June 1948 which explained that
It will provide you with all medical, dental and nursing care. Everyone — rich or poor, man, woman or child — can use it or any part of it. There are no charges, except for a few special items. There are no insurance qualifications. But it is not a “charity”. You are all paying for it, mainly as tax payers, and it will relieve your money worries in time of illness.