1. Assignment
An academic report using key political approaches, relevant facts, evidence and analysis (1800 words)
Title: Past and present approaches to healthcare provision

2. Assessment criteria
2.Understand the role of the State and private sector in provision of Health Care
2.1. Discuss past and present approaches to health care provision.
2.2. Evaluate the relationship between State, private and complementary medicine and voluntary care.

3. Social policy
You will need to understand social policy in relation to welfare in the united Kingdom.
There are competing philosophies for how welfare should be provided .

4. The Welfare State
Before the war it was highlighted that
many people were deprived and poor, Beveridge identified five issues that needed to be tackled to make a better Britain.
The Welfare state was formed to tackle social problems
Social Security
National Health Service (Paid for through taxation)
Free Education
Housing
Full Employment
Disability benefit
Job Seekers Allowance
Pensions
Child Benefit
Free healthcare and education

5. Labour and Conservative
BENEFITS
Views on the Welfare State
The two main political parties have different views on the role of the welfare state.
Labour and Conservative
National insurance benefits (contributory) –
Paid for by national insurance sick pay.
Non – contributory benefits -
Income support
Universal Benefits
(TAX) - maternity pay NHS
Means Tested Benefit –
depends whether you have paid – pensions (stamp)

6. The Welfare State
The Welfare state provided services that were funded and regulated by the state and free at the point of delivery (when and where needed)
Paid workers paid into a national insurance and it was used when needed.
The NHS is paid for by taxation.
This is still in operation but there have been changes in relation to other providers.

7. Benefits Benefits Universal benefits Means-tested benefits Advantages
Simple and cheap to administer
No stigma attached
Promotes the idea of citizenship
Less money is paid out reducing welfare spending
Disadvantages
Wastes money as many recipients do not need.
Costly to administer
People in need may not claim them due to social stigma or because they do not know about them
People whose income is just above the threshold may be left in need.
Examples
Winter fuel
Free school means chlid benefit

8. Alternative/complimentary provision
Private
Private provision is run for profit, they are not state funded but have to meet state regulations and individuals pay directly.
Voluntary
Charitable organisations provide extra services beyond the state i.e. hospices and Age Concern. They must conform to state regulations and may get some funding. Services are provided free or at a reduced cost.
Informal
This is help provided by friends and family, they provide services in addition. There is little or no state funding and usually free to the individual but does cost the provider (time, inability to work own cost)

9. Views of the Welfare State
Labour View
The state has a responsibility for the welfare of it’s citizens so: Give help to those who need it.
Invest heavily in NHS.
Key aims: to tackle child poverty, helping people back to work and cutting unemployment claims amongst young
Increase tax as everyone has a duty to help others.
Conservative view
People should stand on their own feet
Pay for their own welfare
Insurance – education, welfare, healthcare, housing
The benefits system encourages a life on benefit rather than work – creation of a dependency culture and deliberate avoidance of work.
This is a waste of the country’s resources and leads to low aspirations.
Cut benefits for those who will not seek employment.

10. Summary
Political activism, social reform and national interest combined to produce the beginnings of Welfare reform.
Social democratic government wanted to protect working and living conditions improve the health of the nation
The Welfare State (1944)
The aim was to produce a safety net from cradle to grave.
It was anticipated that people would need less welfare as they became healthier and more well off.
This did not occur