NHS Ancillary Services
The National Health Service provides for many ancillary services in addition to those of GP's, dentists and surgeons. NHS is a full-spectrum health-care system offering care in most areas of medical need.
- Emergency Medical - Accident and Emergency treatment is administered as a result of 999 calls (the emergency system number) and other emergency arrivals. Need is assessed on a priority basis. If the visit is deemed non-emergency or minor in nature the patient must sometimes wait for several hours to be seen or is referred to another facility. This service is only associated with an NHS hospital; private hospitals do not provide for emergency care.
- Ambulance – Emergency transport is provided by ambulances under the NHS Ambulance Trust. They must respond to calls for help on the 999 system, the urgent admission request of a doctor, emergency transfers from one facility to the other, and catastrophic events. Non-emergency patient transport is also carried out. Within the ambulance system are Community First Responders and Rapid Response Vehicles that help increase the quality of emergency response.
- Pregnancy and Childbirth – Prenatal care through childbirth and post natal care are provided by the NHS. This includes services by an Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN), a Family Physician (FP), Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), and/or a Perinatologist, a specialist who treats complications of pregnancy.
- Hospital – Admission to the hospital is conducted by request from the GP or other qualified specialist, or by emergency. It is based on need, and individual cases are prioritized.
- Palliative Care – NHS provides hospice care for terminal cancer patients, Alzheimer's, or any other advanced progressive illness. Care includes in-patient units, home care services, services in hospital, and support for bereavement. Pain management is provided as well as psychological and spiritual support.
- Dental Services – Dentists are in private practice but can be contracted to the NHS. Some do NHS work and some do not. Prices for private practice are higher, oftentimes double or more, making the NHS services attractive to many patients.
- Physiotherapy – Physical therapists treat patients with physical problems caused by accidents, sickness, or ageing. It operates as preventative entity as well as a recuperative one.
- Mental Health – NHS provides for evaluation and treatment of a wide range of conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, autism, and many others. Emphasis is on prevention as well as treatment.