England

==Healthcare==
{{Main|Healthcare in England}}
[[File:Sir W.H. Beveridge, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[William Beveridge]]'s 1942 report ''Social Insurance and Allied Services'' served as the basis for the post-[[World War II]] [[welfare state]].]]

The [[National Health Service (England)|National Health Service]] (NHS), is the publicly funded [[healthcare system]] responsible for providing the majority of healthcare in the country. The NHS began on 5 July 1948, putting into effect the provisions of the [[National Health Service Act 1946]]. It was based on the findings of the [[Beveridge Report]], prepared by the economist and social reformer, [[William Beveridge]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC History on William Beveridge |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/beveridge_william.shtml |access-date=5 September 2009}}</ref> The NHS is largely funded by general taxation and [[National Insurance]] payments;<ref>{{Cite news |title=NHS Expenditure in England |work=House of Commons Library |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00724.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423153740/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-00724.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> it provides most of its services free at the point of use, although there are charges for some people for eye tests, dental care, prescriptions and aspects of personal care.<ref>{{Cite news |title=NHS costs and exemptions |work=Department of Health |url=http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/NHScosts/DH_087013 |access-date=5 September 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The government department responsible for the NHS is the [[Department of Health (United Kingdom)|Department of Health]], under the [[Secretary of State for Health]]. Most of the department's expenses are on the NHS—£98.6&nbsp;billion was spent in 2008–2009.<ref name="budget2008">{{Cite news |date=3 March 2008 |title=Budget 2008, Chapter C |work=HM Treasury |url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/7/3/bud08_chapterc.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001194628/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/7/3/bud08_chapterc.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2008}}</ref> Regulatory bodies such as the [[General Medical Council]] and the [[Nursing and Midwifery Council]] are organised on a UK-wide basis, as are non-governmental bodies such as the [[Royal College]]s.

The average [[life expectancy]] is 77.5 years for males and 81.7 years for females, the highest of the four [[countries of the United Kingdom]].<ref name="LifeExpect">{{Cite news |last=Office for National Statistics |author-link=Office for National Statistics |title=Life expectancy |publisher=statistics.gov.uk |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?ID=168 |url-status=dead |access-date=20 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525050617/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=168 |archive-date=25 May 2009}}</ref> The south of England has a higher life expectancy than the north, but regional differences seem to be slowly narrowing: between 1991–1993 and 2012–2014, life expectancy in the North East increased by 6.0 years and in the North West by 5.8 years.<ref name="LifeExpect" />