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In a series tracing the decisive moments in the life of our National Health Service, historian Sally Sheard explores the recurrent crises caused by lack of funding.

In 1987 a shortage of nursing staff lead to the death of a baby whose heart operation had been cancelled five times. Nearly 40 years on from the start of the NHS, the resources couldn't keep up with the demands of the patients. The government published a White Paper, Promoting Better Health, with an emphasis on getting GPs to do more prevention and increase their list size, as well as charging for eye and dental tests. Margaret Thatcher had already brought in the managing director of Sainsbury's Roy Griffiths to improve management in the NHS. By 1991 there was an internal market in the health service.