Celebrating its 70th year, the NHS is a national treasure and the envy of the world, providing not only medical care but also a wide range of social services.
Still going strong after all these years it is a septuagenarian that shows no sign of slowing down.
Let’s take a look at just some of the many the ways the health service in Scotland has proven itself worthy of the world stage through the years . . . and how it continues to excel.
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Medical marvels
There are countless medical discoveries and breakthroughs that have been pioneered in Scotland.
MRI scans, the discovery of endorphins and even beta blockers were all conceived here and Scottish innovation continues to thrive.
Personal care
In 2002 free personal and nursing care for the elderly was introduced in Scotland. Still in effect today, the initiative is non-discriminatory and available to everyone over 65 who needs it – regardless of income, assets or marital status.
The type of care available covers everything from personal hygiene assistance to food preparation and even getting up and going to bed.
Free for everyone
In 2011 Scotland abolished prescription charges, following the lead of Northern Ireland and Wales.
The main aim has been to prevent further taxation of society, especially the poorest and sickest people.
Policy providers
Scotland has always been a pioneer when it comes to adopting new policies and initiatives that improve the welfare of citizens.
The NHS played an instrumental role in bringing about the 2006 smoking ban that saw Scotland become the first of the home nations to stub out smoking in public places.
Boxing clever
Following the very successful Finnish model, the Scottish Government decided to introduce Baby Boxes to the country, with every expectant mother entitled to one box for every baby.
A brief chat with a dedicated midwife is enough to receive a box. Packed with essentials and goodies – such as nappies, towels, clothes and books – it also doubles up as a handy Moses basket.
If you’re feeling inspired by the achievements of the NHS in Scotland and want to break into the challenging social services sector, there are plenty of public and private employment opportunities available right now.
You can find the latest Social Services/Housing/Childcare vacancies on s1jobs.