Chapter 1 Key facts checklists

The core principles underlying the National Health Service (NHS) are accessibility, choice, and high-quality service delivered according to clinical need.
A range of initiatives exist which aim to enhance quality and patient safety within the NHS.
Medical research is essential to develop state-of-the-art treatment.
Resource allocation and ‘rationing’ of NHS services has attracted considerable attention and debate.
Commissioning is the purchasing of healthcare services from providers. The aim for the future of the NHS is to managerially join up a seamless provision of healthcare between primary care, secondary care and community-delivered services.