Exeter Hospital and the NHS
The NHS provides access to a comprehensive range of services throughout primary and community healthcare, intermediate care and hospital based care. The NHS also provides information services and administrative support to individuals in relation to health promotion, disease prevention, self-care, rehabilitation and after care. The NHS continues to provide clinically appropriate cost-effective services.
NHS management shapes its services around the needs and preferences of individual patients, their families and their carers. The NHS of the 21st century is responsive to the needs of different groups and individuals within society, and challenges discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability and sexuality. The NHS treats patients as individuals, with respect for their dignity. Patients and citizens have a greater say in the NHS, and the provision of services is centred on patients’ needs.
The NHS responds to different needs of different populations. Health services and hospitals continue to be funded nationally, and available to all citizens of the UK. Within this framework, the NHS is also responsive to the different needs of different populations in the devolved nations and throughout the regions and localities. Efforts are continually made to reduce unjustified variations and raise standards to achieve a truly National Health Service.
