Text C. National Health Service in England

The National Health Service in England was inaugurated¹ on July 5,1948 by the Minister for Health under the National Health Service Act of 1946.

The number of doctors in England is not quite enough to serve millions of potential patients who are treated at the expense of the National Health Service. Hospitals are always crowded² and the number of doctors working there is not sufficient. Nurses are also in short supply.

All doctors may take part in the Family Doctor System and most of the physicians do so. They may have private practice receiving the pay directly from the patients for their medical advice. Health Service doctors are paid by the Government, the pay depending on the number of patients they have served every month.

The hospital service includes general and special hospitals, tuberculosis sanatoria, infectious disease units, and all forms of specialized treatment together with the provision of most surgical and medical needs.

In the main this part of the service is organized by 15 Regional Hospital Boards.³ In each hospital area there is a University having a teaching hospital or a medical school.

Notes

1. to be inaugurated [i'no:gjureitid]—быть торжественно открытым, быть введенным

2. to be crowded ['kraudid] — быть переполненным

3. Regional Hospital Board — областной больничный совет

9 A. М. Маслова

XII. Read Text D. Say why the struggle for peace is so important from the point view of a doctor.