… a variety of forms of health care such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, iridology or aromatherapy that are normally considered outside the official health sector and which are not generally regarded as part of conventional treatment. However, in response to their growing popularity many of them are becoming available on the NHS.

… the Report on Social Insurance and Allied Services prepared in 1942 which led to the 'welfare state' being created

… an insurance association providing financial cover for private medical insurance for regular subscribers. Now about 11% of the UK population have private medical insurance, compared with 2% in 1961, and the private sector carries out 20% of non-emergency surgery.

… enables people to live in their own homes or in small residential units with support from visiting nurses, social workers or volunteers rather than in large institutions, such as hospitals. It is nowadays generally agreed upon that institutional care is often not only expensive but may be damaging to patients' psychological well being.

… now recognised as a major factor contributing to good health. This works through both suggestions for healthy eating and the dangers of dieting. It is estimated that of the 40% of British women who are at any time trying to diet, 98% of them will not only regain any weight they lose, but also put on more.

… a trained medical nurse who gives care and treatment to people in their homes especially those with young children and babies and who covers a particular district in the town or country

… whereby local councils attempt to control elements in the physical environment which might harm health, such as the condition of food premises, noise, smoke, air, and so on

… requires about £50 billion per year (approximately £790 per head). The vast majority of this (over 80%) comes directly from taxes

… an official warning that must by law appear on all tobacco products and advertisements in Britain (and in Poland). It usually tells the 28% of the UK population who buy the products: "Cigarettes can seriously damage your health". Cigarette smoking is associated with around 120,000 premature deaths each year in the UK, and as such is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and death. Alarmingly, statistics suggest that over 30% of 16-24 year olds in the United Kingdom are smokers

… sometimes called family doctor. There are over 35,000 in the UK who have, on average, 1,900 patients each registered with them. They make a diagnosis when the patient visits them and then decide on the treatment necessary, which might include referral to a specialist.

… recently reorganised to create 100 unitary versions in England and 5 in Wales, 15 health boards in Scotland and 4 health and social services boards in Northern Ireland. These authorities are responsible for identifying the healthcare needs of the people living in their area and the ones in England each serve a population of approximately half a million people.

… whereby death rates and the prevalence of major diseases are higher, according to class, income, region, and ethnic background

… one of his characters in "Three Men in a Boat" indulges in studying a thick medical handbook, he begins to suffer from all possible symptoms of various kinds of serious diseases. He then goes to a doctor who writes him a prescription. However, the pharmacist refuses to provide the prescribed medicine which was the doctor's sensible piece of advice: "Have a pint of beer and stop reading medical books which you can't possibly understand". It is undoubtedly one of the funniest passages on hypochondriacs in English literature.

… a large teaching hospital which is part of London University. Teaching hospitals are an important part of the system of training doctors.

… a prestigious weekly journal for doctors and members of the medical profession. It was first published in 1823 and is widely read all over the world, including Poland.

… we take when we are ill. As well as the pills and tablets we are familiar with, there are also lots of traditional remedies for illness which are passed down through generations.

… provided a comprehensive, largely free medical treatment for the whole of UK population for over 50 years. While it is sometimes the source of complaints from frustrated patients, it is nevertheless an indispensable element in the British Health Care system.

… make up nearly half the workforce of the NHS, and who are often thought to be underpaid and overworked

… an ethical issue which has been much in the news lately

… the money paid for medicine supplied on the National Health Service. Currently about £6, this is a fixed sum for all medicines. It is usually less than the actual cost. There are numerous exemptions to prescription charges, and some 80% of prescriptions are dispensed free to people on low incomes, children under 16, pregnant women, and people over 60.

… something all health systems should strive to provide

… on which over £400 million is spent per year. One area of research which is currently attracting much attention is that of genetic food

… the doctor's certificate which is the statutory requirement for periods of absenteeism of 7 days or more. In practice many employers ask for one for periods of absence from work under the 7-day limit, although the NHS is trying to discourage this, as it puts a huge strain on GPs.

… a major priority of the Health Education Authority, who have set up web sites as part of their Healthy Schools Initiative

… part of the NHS Reforms and which provide hospital and community care for millions of people

… in the world of Health these are always happening

… there are over 1,000 involved in health care in the UK, such as the Samaritans, Oxfam, and Barnados

… you can find out what we need and which foods they are in

… generally this term refers to a system by which the government of a country assumes responsibility for protecting and promoting the welfare of its citizens in such areas as health, income maintenance, unemployment, and pensions

… perhaps the most contentious issue in the NHS at the moment

… medical treatment using invisible electromagnetic radiation discovered by the German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895

… a system of exercises for the body and the control of breathing for those who want to become fitter

… this is the noise you may make while sleeping and dreaming