The NHS
Aneurin or Nye Bevan introduced the NHS bill. It set out that in 1948 The National Health Service would freely provide to any and all free:
- Hospitals
- Vaccinations
- Doctors
- Ambulances
- Prescriptions
- Opticians
- Dentists
- Health Visitors & Maternity clinics
There was a lot of opposition to the NHS:-
- Doctors were worried about losing control and money by having to work for the NHS.
- People claimed the government had excessive control over the people.
- Cost was a big issue. Many were worried it would cost far too much.
The problems continue today. Problems include the high cost of new technology, and medicines. People now live longer and require much more care and help than before. The wealthy can jump the queue and go private for some operations.
The World Health Organisation was also set up in 1948. It has successfully vaccinated eighty percent of children. In 1967 it started to end Smallpox, (whole countries were vaccinated!) and in 1980 announced that Smallpox had been destroyed. Since 1987 WHO had been spending money to find a cure for AIDs which is the fourth biggest worldwide killer.
LINKS | 19th C Industrial Revolution: Public Health | Chadwick | Public Health Acts | Snow & Cholera |
LINKS | 20th C: Philanthropists | Wartime | The Liberals | The NHS | Bevan | Beveridge | Anatomy | Surgery |