United Kingdom - England Social support systems Organisation and
financing of social support to people with dementia and carers
Background information on the social/healthcare system in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland Prior to 1948, healthcare
was a luxury that not everyone could afford. Workers on a low
wage had access to free doctors but everyone else had to pay.
For those who could not pay, there was the Royal Free Hospital
which initially relied on consultants giving their services free
of charge and money from legacies, donations, subscriptions and
fund-raising events. There were also other charitable and
voluntary hospitals. Elderly people who could not care for
themselves sometimes ended up in work houses, later known as
Public Assistance Institutions. In 1942, the Beveridge Report
recommended a universal and comprehensive service covering all
people and all needs. The National Health Service (NHS) was
formed and started to function in 1948. Although initially
intended to provide free health care,