The National Health Service begins
The UK’s National Health Service began on 5 July 1948. It aimed to support and protect Britain's citizens from the “cradle to the grave”.
On 5 July 1948, the UK’s National Health Service began as part of a series of reforms with the aim of supporting and protecting Britain's citizens from the “cradle to the grave”.
The architect of the NHS was the health minister in the post-war Labour party government, Aneurin Bevan. The care was to be free for all and paid for by taxation.
The birth of the NHS was not without controversy, the British Medical Association worried that doctors would be turned into civil servants.
On the same day that the NHS was born, John Marks qualified as a doctor.
Dr Marks spoke to Louise Hidalgo about the early days of the NHS in this programme first broadcast in 2009.
(Photo: Prime Minister Aneurin Bevan meets staff at Park Hospital, Manchester on the opening day of the NHS Credit: Trafford Healthcare NHS/PA Wire)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 5 Jul 2023 07:50GMT±«Óătv World Service
- Wed 5 Jul 2023 11:50GMT±«Óătv World Service
- Wed 5 Jul 2023 17:50GMT±«Óătv World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Wed 5 Jul 2023 21:50GMT±«Óătv World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 6 Jul 2023 02:50GMT±«Óătv World Service
Featured in...
![]()
Health and wellbeing—Witness History
From fitness to friendship - ideas that changed the way we treat our bodies and minds
Podcast
-
![]()
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there
