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THE

NATIONAL

་

HEALTH

SERVICE

The National Health Service will provide you with all medical, dental, and nursing care. Everyone- including all visitors to this country whether of British nationality or not-can use it or any complete part of it. There are no charges, except for a few special items. No insurance qualifications are necessary.

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Choose

a Doctor

You are entitled to all usual advice and treatment Pagom 3 am toge Everyone aged 16 and over

can choose his or her own doctor. Parents or guardians choose for children under 16.

Your dealings with your doctor will be personal and confidential, you will visit his surgery, or he will call on you, as may be necessary. The doctor will be paid by the Government out of funds provided by everybody.

Get a form E.C.1 from any Post Office, complete it and hand it to the doctor of your choice. Any doctor can decline to accept a patient. If one doctor cannot accept you, ask another, or ask to be put in touch with one by the Executive Council in your area (you can get its address from the Post Office). A separate form must be filled in for each member of the family. The doctor will send the form to your local Executive Council, who will send a medical card " to you. ·

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If you want to change your doctor, you can do so at any time without difficulty. If you need a doctor when away from your own district, you can go to any doctor who is taking part in the Service you will not have to pay.

'If you were previously resident in Great Britain and your name was on a doctor's list under the old National Health Insurance Scheme, it will have been removed if you told the Immigration Officer that you would be away for more than three months. If you think it is likely that your name is still on a doctor's list, write to the Executive Council.

Maternity Services

An expectant mother can have the services of a doctor who undertakes maternity work or of her usual doctor even if he does not undertake such work normally, and of a midwife. She is also entitled to general care before and after confinement. Her usual doctor or the Welfare Centre, can put the expectant mother in touch with a doctor who undertakes maternity work. It will be the doctor's responsibility, with a midwife, to give all proper care and (if he considers it necessary or is called in by the midwife) to be present at the confinement.

Specialist

Hospital and You will also be entitled to all forms of treatment in general or special hospitals, whether as an in-patient or as an out-patient. These include, for instance, maternity care, sanatorium treatment, care of mental health, and all surgical operations.

Services

The help of consultants and specialists of all kinds will be made available to you as national resources allow, whether at hospital, at special health centres, or 33"hether

resources allow,

Your doctor will arrange this help when you need it.

you

Hospital charges are not payable

payable under the Scheme Where accommodation pestits, however, Jolie pay comething for greater privacy (for example, in single rooms or small wards). Or, if you do not want to use the service itself, there will be private pay-bed accommodation for which you can make your own private feet arrangements with doctors.

Medicines, Drugs, and Appliances

Your doctor will give you a prescription for any medicines and drugs you need. You can get. these free from any

the Scheme. In som emist who takes part in

himself may dispense medicines.

country areas the doctor

The same is true of all necessary appliances. Some of them will be obtainable through hospitals; some your doctor can prescribe for you. There will be no charge, unless careless breakage causes. earlier replacement than usual.

Care of the Teeth

A dental service is provided, but at present, there are too few dentists to make a full service available to all without delay.

You can go to any dentist taking part in the new arrangements (there will be a list at your Post Office). You need no application form. Just call, by appointment, on the dentist of your choice when you need him. At his surgery you and he will sign a form for your treatment under the new arrangements. All necessary fillings and dentures will be supplied without fee, but if you want anything speci- ally expensive, and beyond what is necessary, you will pay the extra cost yourself.

A special priority service for expectant and nursing mothers and young children is being organised by local authorities (in addition to the school dental service). Full information about this priority service can be obtained at Welfare Centres..

Care of

Care of the eyes will be undertaken by specialists at the Eyes hospitals, or at special clinics which will be part of the hospital service, as fast as these can be organ- ised. Meanwhile, a Supplementary Eye Service will be available.

First get a recommendation from your family doctor that your eyes need testing. Then hand that recommendation to any doctor with special qualifications (lists are available) or to any ophthalmic optician taking part in the new service. If you need glasses, these will be provided without charge Figs retesting you my to direct to any of the doctors with special qualifications, or to an ophthalmic

●ptician.

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•

The National Health Service will provide several kinds of spec- tacles of different types For certain specially expensive types within the range provided you will have to pay the extra cost.

Deafness

Specialist ear clinics will be established as resources allow. At them you will get not only an expert opinion upon deafness, but also, if necessary, a new hearing aid invented by a special committee of the Medical Research Council. Production of these aids is now going on, but will not meet all demands at once. They will be supplied free, when ready, together with a reasonable allowance of maintenance batteries.

Home Health

Your local County or County Borough Services

Council makes special provision for (1) advice and care of expectant and nursing mothers and children under five (for particulars ask your doctor, health visitor, or Welfare Centre); (2) midwifery (ask your doctor or Welfare Centre); (3) home nursing where there is illness in the family (ask your doctor); (4) all necessary vaccination or immunisa- tion (through your doctor or Welfare Centre); and (5) a health visitor service to deal with problems of illness in the home, especially tuberculosis.

Health

Special premises known as Health Centres may Centres be opened in your district. Doctors may be

accommodated there instead of in their own surgeries, but you will still have “

your own doctor" to give you personal and confidential treatment. He will still come to your home as necessary. At the Health Centre he will be able to use equipment supplied from public funds. These Centres may also offer dentistry and other services on the spot.

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ISSUED BY THB/MINISTRY OF HEAI

(8499) Wţ.P845/1926, 500M. 8/48 R.M. Ltd. Gp.1082

N.H.S. Leaflet No. 2.