ABSTRACT
In order to understand the nature of private medical practice in the UK it is essential to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between public and private healthcare provision. Established by a Labour government in 1948, the National Health Service (NHS) is a comprehensive healthcare system funded exclusively by taxation. It aims to provide free access to health services at the point of delivery to all UK citizens. It has proved to be a remarkably durable and popular institution. As we will see, the success of the NHS has had the effect of limiting the size of the market in private healthcare. The reasons why individuals opt for private treatment are many and various. 'Cultural' factors often play a part, as does the desire for comfort and privacy and the personal attention of a private doctor. The consultant has long been regarded as the pinnacle of hospital medicine.
