Development of the NHS

Development of the NHS

1. 5th July 1948

   • First day of the National Health Service
     • The nationalisation of hospitals
     • The creation of health centres
     • The better distribution of doctors around the country
     • A new salary structure for doctors

2. Services available to all

   • Hospitals
   • Specialists
   • Dentists
   • Medicines and appliances
   • Family doctors
   • Ambulances
   • Vaccinations

3. Why was the NHS introduced?

   • Due to WWII, the government knew that there had to be adequate medical resources due to the large amounts of casualties
     • The government had to increase their involvement in medical care
     • In 1942, leading civil servant, William Beveridge, put forward his ideas about a free national health service as part of a complete re think of the governments national insurance scheme

4. Opposition

   • The cost
   • Private doctors
     • Insisted on the right to continue treating some patients privately
     • Lose out financially
     • No professional freedom