Birth of the NHS for text Flashcards
When was the National Health Service (NHS) created?
1948
What was the NHS designed to provide?
Free health care in Britain
Was there opposition to the creation of the NHS?
Yes, due to concerns about costs and doctors’ independence
Who wrote the Beveridge Report in 1942
William Beveridge, a Liberal politician and social reformer
What was the purpose of the Beveridge Report?
He recommended that the government should act to deal with what he called the ‘five giants’
List the five giants of social welfare Beveridge identified
Idleness, ignorance, disease, want, squalor
What caused ‘idleness’ in 1942 Britain?
A lack of employment opportunities
What caused ‘ignorance’ in 1942 Britain?
People lacking a good education
What was ‘disease’ caused by?
Unaffordable health care
What was ‘squalor’ caused by?
Poor-quality housing
What was ‘want’ caused by?
Poverty
Who became Minister of Health after the 1945 general election?
Bevan
Which party won the 1945 general election?
Labour Party
What principles did Bevan base the NHS on?
The principles of the Beveridge Report
Which group was concerned that doctors would lose their independence?
The General Medical Counci
What did some politicians argue about the NHS’s cost?
They thought it would be too expensive and taxpayers should not pay.
Who was the first patient treated by the NHS?
13-year-old Sylvia Diggory at Trafford General Hospital
What services did the NHS initially include?
Eye tests, hearing tests, prescriptions, and hospital care
How did the NHS ensure it was fully staffed?
Nurses and domestic workers were recruited from the Caribbean and Ireland
When were prescription charges introduced?
1951
Why did prescription charges become necessary?
To pay for the cost of the Korean War
What was the initial budget for the NHS per year?
£437 million (equivalent to around £15 billion in 2021)
What happened to Aneurin Bevan as a result of the introduction of prescription charges?
He resigned from the government
What types of public health campaigns does the NHS run today?
Campaigns to encourage people to stop smoking, eat healthily, practise safe sex, and get vaccinated
What is a major challenge the NHS faces today?
The cost of new treatments
How does the NHS decide which services or medications to fund?
Decisions are made based on which medications and services can be paid for by the NHS and which cannot.
