NHS vs. Private Healthcare in the UK

This assignment tasks students to write an argumentative essay comparing the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and private healthcare systems. Students must argue whether seeking treatment privately or through the NHS is ultimately better. The essay requires strong research, evidence-based arguments, a clear stance, and adherence to academic writing conventions, including in-text citations and a Harvard Style reference list.

Autumn17
English for Academic Purposes 2 Resit
(EAPB3017)
Name:
Student Number:
Lecturer name:
This is your English for Academic Purposes 2 Portfolio. Please submit this via the Student
Portal.
Please refer to suggested word counts for each task included within in this portfolio.
Week Table of Contents Page Learning
Outcome
Completed?
()
Assessed Learning Outcomes:
1. Produce elements of a cohesive and coherent researched essay
2. Listen to an academic lecture whilst taking coherent notes
3. Read, compare and summarise a number of written academic texts.

Portfolio Tasks
(These tasks should be developed throughout the term but completed by
Tuesday 5 December 2017 by 2pm)
5 Organising your ideas
[suggested word count: varies per task] 4 LO 1 & 3
6 Making notes with confidence
(200 words) 6 LO 2
7 Developing your arguments
[suggested word count: varies per task] 8 LO 1, 2 & 3
8 Writing your argumentative essay
(900 words +/- 10%) 10 LO 1 & 3
9 Getting a First! 11 LO 1 & 3
Track your progress by ticking off each task as you complete it, in the final column.
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 1

PORTFOLIO TASK
Organising your ideas: Are my sources reliable?
In the space below, create an outline for your essay by making notes about any information you
find from class or reading list sources and from the two sources you found. Use bullet points and
not full sentences. Include in-text citations where necessary. You should add to this throughout
the course. (150 – 200 words)
Arguments in Favour (YES) Arguments against (NO)
Point 1
______
It is better for the patients to seek
treatment privately because they will not
be subjected to a long waiting list. The
private heath care centres will ensure
that the patients get the treatment at the
right time.
It is not beneficial for the patients to
seek treatment in the NHS because they
will be subjected to the problems of
delayed treatment. It is a common
problem that in the NHS the patients
often are kept waiting for a long period
of time. Though NHS has worked hard in
eradicating inequality in the society by
providing g treatment to the patients
irrespective of their financial status but
they have failed to deal with the
problem of the delayed treatment.
Point 2
_____
It is also beneficial for the patients to
seek treatment in the Private hospitals
rather than in the NHS because the
patients can seek for the PMI or the
private medical insurance that will give
the patients the facility of getting a
private cabin with private nurses looking
after them. The patients will also get a
helpline service on a 24*7 basis.
Patients seeking treatment in the NHS
will be kept in the general wards which
can be harmful for the patients as they
can get diseases due to the
contamination with other patients.
There is also no helpline service
available to cater to the needs of the
patients.
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 2

PORTFOLIO TASK
Making notes with confidence
This is an in-class activity. Use the space below to write notes as you listen to the talk.
Though the history of NHS is politically turbulent but it as also seen several changes and
advancements.
1958- saw the polio vaccination for the first time.
1960- Contraceptive was given to the married women for the first time and then to other women
1978- world’s first test tube baby
1979- heart surgery
1980- key hole heart surgery
2002- world’s first gene therapy
NHS however has increased the price of its prescription over the years and has started finding it
very difficult to cope up with the increased stress ion the growing population. It has started facing
many challenges like providing timely care to the patients, high cost of the bed, problems of
seasonal flu and cold and many other such ailments.
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 3

Write a summary about what you have just listened to. (no more than 100 words)
NHS was established with the motif of providing free medical services to the patients. The main
aim of setting up this medical institute was to take a step forward towards the social equality. They
aimed at giving free medical service to all the patients irrespective of their social status, financial
condition, and social caste. However, with the passage of time, NHS has suffered through a lot of
changes. The health budget of the later year can be around 140 billion pounds. However, one
cannot ignore the free services that NHS has been offering over several years like visiting a doctor
is free, getting an operation is also free, delivery of a baby is free. However over the past few years
it has been facing several challenges like providing sufficient number of beds to the patients,
dealing with the proper treatment and protection of patients during winter. This is because there
are chances of the already ill patients to get the seasonal cold and fly through contamination.
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 4

Write a response to the opinions given. (no more than 100 words)
NHS has really worked hard in promoting social equality by providing free service to all the patients
irrespective of their social status, financial status, socio cultural background. It is really a great effort that
must be appreciated on the part of NHS that it has provided free medical services to the patients for
several years. History of NHS is evident of the fact that it has shown considerable improvement in the field
of medical advancement. The development that NHS has seen several advancements over the past few
ages
1958- The polio vaccination for the first time.
1960- Contraceptive was given to the married women for the first time and then to other women
1978- The world’s first test tube baby
1979- The heart surgery
1980- The key whole heart surgery
2002- The world’s first gene therapy
However over the past few years, NHS has started facing many problems. It has started facing a
humanitarian crisis. It has been unable to provide timely attention to the patients. Patients have to wait for
a long time in order to get a bed at the hospital. As NHs is unable to provide ample space for all the
patients, the major challenge is in the winter time when the patients suffer from the seasonal cold and flu
Moreover, most of the other local hospitals remain closed and the entire stress comes on NHS. So, there is
the risk of the already sick patients to develop the cold and flu through contamination. Hence, NHS must
take sufficient measures to deal with all these problems.
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 5

PORTFOLIO TASK
Developing your arguments: Paraphrasing/Summarising
Choose one aspect (e.g. Point 1 or 2) and summarise and/or paraphrase the main points you noted
in the outline on page 2. Use complete sentences and include in-text citations where necessary.
(150 – 200 words)
Arguments in favour (YES):
It is beneficial for the patients to seek treatment in the private organizations rather than going in
the NHS because under the private medical system, the patients will be ensured that the there is
no delay in the treatment. Though the patients might initially find the private treatment to be very
much expensive, but at the same time the patients will also be able to select several options or
schemes under the PMI or the private medical insurance that will give them the scope of selecting
the cheap option for themselves (BBC Guides 2017). Apart from this, the patients will also be given
the right treatment at the right time. It is very essential for the hospital authorities to see that the
patients must not be suffering due to the delay in their treatment. If the patients seek treatment
privately them they will also be given several additional facilities like a 24*7 helpline service which
will cater to every need of the patients and solve them. The patients will also be given single cabins
where they can get special care. The patients will also be able to select the place and the timing of
their treatment.
Arguments against (NO):
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 6

Patients will not find it beneficial if they go for treatment in the NHS because they will have
to suffer from the delay in the treatment. Though NHS has worked hard to bridge the gap
between the rich and the poor by providing equal and free services to all but the patients
have suffered from the delayed treatment (BBC News 2017). Often patients have to stay in
the long waiting list and get their turn after at least six weeks or even a full year in some
cases. This can make the condition of the patients worse if they do not get timely
treatment.
PORTFOLIO TASK
Developing your arguments: Combining sources
Using the summaries you wrote in the previous task, combine them below to create the first body
paragraph of your essay. Use the guide below to help you and highlight each part with the same
colour. (250 – 300 words)
Body paragraph 1
Say why this is a key issue (e.g. Economic/Social)
(this is your topic sentence)
What is the counter-argument of this issue?
(this is the opinion you do not agree with)
What is the main argument of this issue?
(this is your opinion)
 Why is your argument stronger than the counter-argument?
 What evidence/examples do you have to support this?
What can you conclude from this? What are the implications?
You should use at least 2 sources in this paragraph.
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 7

Key issue
The key issue is the issue of the delayed treatment that the patients often have to suffer while
seeking treatment in the NHS. This is a major social issue because being one the well known health
institutes of U.K , it must be their responsibility to see that the patients are given proper treatment
at the proper time. However, it must be noted that NHS has worked hard in promoting equality by
providing free service to all the patients irrespective of their social and financial status but they
have not been able to deal with the problem of delayed treatment. This causes the patient and the
family members if the patient to suffer through huge harassment and the life of the patient is at
complete stake.
Counter argument
NHS claims that it has tried hard to promote equality among all the patients by providing them
equal medical facilities (BBC News 2017). However, it has to be noted that though the patients
are capable of opting for free treatment but they often have to stay in the waiting list for a long
time. Hence, the patients often have to depend upon their luck in order to get the treatment. If
luck favours the patients will be given prompt treatment else they will have to keep on waiting for
a long period of time (BBC Guides 2017). The lifestyle rationing system also violates the social
equality. NHS denies the free treatment to those patients whom they consider to have been
suffering from self inflicted diseases.
Main argument
It is beneficial for the patient to seek treatment privately because they will be ensured that there is
no delay in the treatment. Though the patients might find the private medical process to be
initially expensive but they will also get many options to select the cheapest scheme under the PMI
or the private medical insurance. Under the private system the patients are usually never kept
waiting for the treatment. Even if they have to wait in some cases it is less than the duration of six
weeks whereas the patients have to wait more than the span of six weeks in the NHS. Apart from
this, patients will also be entitled to several additional facilities like that of a 24*7 helpline service,
single cabins and also other improved, medical facilities.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that the patients will be benefited if they go to the private hospitals for
their treatment. This will guarantee the patients timely treatment. There will be no delay in the
treatmConclusioent of the patients. The patients will also be able to select the date, time and the
place of their treatment as per their convenience. The patients will also get many options to select
the cheapest PMI or the private medical insurance. The patients will also be entitled to several
additional facilities like a single cabin with better services.
References
BBC Guides. 2017. Should the NHS always foot the bill?. [online] Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zqvhpv4 [Accessed 12 Jun. 2017].
BBC News. 2017. Upfront charges for NHS foreign patients in England - BBC News. [online]
Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38876527 [Accessed 12
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 8

Jun. 2017].
PORTFOLIO TASK
Writing your argumentative essay
Using the same process as you did for the first body paragraph, complete your essay below.
(900 words: +/- 10%)
Is it better for patients in the UK to seek treatment privately or on the NHS?
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 9

Reference List:
PORTFOLIO EVIDENCE
Week 7: Getting a First!
Tick () the appropriate column to check that your essay has included the necessary parts to help
it get as high a grade as possible!
Good
evidence
Some
evidence
Insufficient
evidence
Knowledge and understanding
A. Have you worked through the tasks in
this portfolio?
B. Have you paraphrased/summarized ideas
effectively?
C. Do your portfolio tasks show
understanding of the essay writing
process?
D. Have you researched and supported your
ideas with evidence and examples?
Cognitive/Intellectual Skills
E. Does your essay include an introduction
and conclusion?
F. Do your body paragraphs contain a
counter-argument, argument &
evidence/ examples, using appropriate
linking words?
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 10

G. Have you used at least 4 sources (they
can be from class or reading list) &
combined your sources effectively?
H. Have you made your opinion clear?
Graduate: Transferable Employability & Practical Skills
I. Are you within the word count?
J. Have you checked for spelling, grammar
and punctuation mistakes?
K. Have you used appropriate academic
style and appropriate vocabulary?
L. Have you included in-text citations and a
reference list that follow Harvard Style?
M. Do you show good awareness of your
strengths and weaknesses (skills audit
and PDP target)?
EAPB3017 | English for Academic Purposes 2 11