National Health Service

American  

[nash-uh-nl helth sur-vis, nash-nuhl] / ˈnæʃ ə nl ˈhɛlθ ˌsɜr vɪs, ˈnæʃ nəl /

noun

1. Great Britain’s publicly funded network of healthcare systems: often used in the United Kingdom as an umbrella term that also includes the Health and Social Care of Northern Ireland. NHS

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National Health Service British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: NHS.  (in Britain) the system of national medical services since 1948, financed mainly by taxation

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Etymology

Origin of National Health Service

First recorded in 1880–85 as a recommendation; established in 1946

Example Sentences

Almost two-thirds of the people who were initially sceptical went on to receive at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, according to data from the National Health Service cited in the study.

From Barron's

Researchers warn that people who cannot afford private care may struggle to receive effective treatment through the National Health Service.

From Science Daily

The National Health Service comes under regular attack for budget cutting; it always has.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some health economists in the U.K. question whether the cash-strapped National Health Service should divert resources away from other needs.

From The Wall Street Journal

In England, the National Health Service issued a “flu jab SOS,” urging those eligible for the free vaccine to get it quickly and protect themselves this winter.

From Salon