Impact of Austerity on UK Health and Social Policy: Report

This report provides an analysis of key aspects of UK social policy. It begins with an examination of the influence of changes to social housing policies implemented in the 1980s, particularly during Margaret Thatcher's government, focusing on the impact of neo-liberal and social conservative approaches, the Right to Buy scheme, and the consequences leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. The report then addresses the challenges faced by the National Health Service (NHS) in providing free healthcare, including the impacts of an aging population, population growth, evolving healthcare needs, and the high costs associated with advanced medical equipment. Finally, the report evaluates the impact of austerity measures on current UK health and social policies, discussing the effects of budget cuts and reduced government spending on the healthcare system and social welfare programs. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of balancing social needs with government policies and economic realities.

Social Policy

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
1. Influence of changes to social housing in year 1980...............................................................1
2. Key challenges facing by NHS while providing free health services.....................................2
3. Impact of austerity on current UK health and social policy....................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Social policy generally formulated by government and political parties for the welfare of state
and study of social determinants exist in society. This includes the legislations, guidelines,
principles and activities that governs the living conditions of human in direction of their welfare
and quality life in society (Daly, 2019).
The aspects cover in report includes changes in social housing in year 1985, challenges
facing by NHS while providing free health care at the point of need and impact of austerity on
current UK health and social policy.
MAIN BODY
1. Influence of changes to social housing in year 1980
The main reason of changes in housing sector within the time period of 1980 was the
government of Margaret Thatcher. This government combined the two aspects in the
development of housing policy i.e. economic neo-liberalism and social conservatism. These
changes have had long term impact that somewhere sowed the seeds of 2008 financial crises.
The changes were seen as extending home ownership and transferring of social housing
from the hands of local authorities to other landlords. Also, seen that housing associations had
the aim of increasing market through reducing the influence of local authorities that fulfils the
criterion of Thatcher’s neo-liberalism aspect. In promotion of the aspect of social conservatism,
Thatcher focused over providence of subsidies for increasing home ownership. This was created
the tension with chancellors on the point that it distorted the housing market in future.
There were many changes seen in the 1980 Housing Act, that extended right to buy council
homes in respect to tenants with the aid of generous discounts. Also, to sell state assets,
Thatcher’s government used mortgage interest tax relief as source to subsidise home ownership.
It was seen in between the year 1979 to 1990 that the amount of subsidy rose from £2.5bn to
more than £8bn along with number of recipients by 66% i.e. 9.7 million at the end of year 1990.
This resultant into increase in housing price that was doubled over the decade and provided the
foundation in respect to the unsustainable levels of home ownership that further contributes
towards financial crash in year 2008 (Social housing changes in year 1980, 2020).
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2. Key challenges facing by NHS while providing free health services
There are many challenges facing by NHS at the time of providing free services within the
society. All these are described below:
Ageing population: The growing age of population requires high need of medical
services. This creates the difficulty to reach towards all possible number of people exist in
society for providence of effective health care services.
Growing population: The growing population in comparison to the ratio of medical
professionals and volunteers impact the ability to reach towards all needy individuals of society.
Evolving health care needs: The evolvement of health care needs diminishes the ability to
reach towards all needy individuals due to the limited aid of volunteers and medical
professionals belonging from various medical fields (Teague and Donaghey, 2018).
High cost of advanced medical equipment’s: The use of advanced equipment’s is high
for the providence of optimum health safety to an individual. The aspect of associated high cost
restricts the ability to reach towards large number of individuals as difficult to manage budget for
carrying other routine functions.
3. Impact of austerity on current UK health and social policy
Austerity is known as bad economic condition that does not allow performing functions with
adhering luxuries nature activities. This includes the set of political economic policies with the
aim of reducing government budget deficits. The aspects which are generally adopted in this
respect includes cut in spending’s, increase in taxes or both. These are adopted by the
government when find the situation that they are unable to pay off their debts. In this condition,
efforts will be made to reduce budget deficit through bringing government revenue closer to their
expenditures (Walker, 2018).
This has negative impact over the current health and social practices of nation. This situation
does not allow to spend over the purchase of new and advanced health equipment’s along with
formulation of policies that are beneficiary for society. The only amount will be provided as
budget which is necessary to regulate current operations.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that development of social policy is over the
head of government officials. They have to frame according to the present conditions and
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requirement of society. The activity of balance between both is important, otherwise it impacts
the current operational ability of nation.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Daly, M., 2019. The Implications of the Departure of the UK for EU Social Policy. Social Policy
and Society. 18(1). pp.107-117.
Teague, P. and Donaghey, J., 2018. Brexit: EU social policy and the UK employment
model. Industrial Relations Journal. 49(5-6). pp.512-533.
Walker, A., 2018. Why the UK needs a social policy on ageing. Journal of social policy. 47(2).
pp.253-273.
Online
Social housing changes in year 1980. 2020. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2013/apr/17/margaret-thatcher-legacy-
housing-crisis>
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