NHS 1948 Flashcards
What was the primary factor influencing the extent and quality of medical treatment before 1911?
The wealth of the individual
What type of hospitals could wealthy individuals access for medical treatment?
Private hospitals
What was the experience of the poorest individuals regarding medical treatment before 1911?
They often suffered and died after ineffective self-medication
What were local Friendly Societies?
Health insurance schemes made affordable for most
What was the status of Friendly Society health insurance schemes?
Unregulated and non-compulsory
What could happen if a local Friendly Society collapsed?
Members could be unable to secure any treatment at all
Fill in the blank: Members of a Friendly Society make a small regular payment. When they need financial help, the Friendly Society pays out a _______.
lump sum
In what year was the National Health Service (NHS) created?
1948
What types of health services are included in the National Health Service?
Medical, dental, and mental health services
What was the post-war welfare state increasingly challenged by?
Changing social makeup of society and changing attitudes of political parties
True or False: The post-war welfare state was considered fit for purpose in the years following its establishment.
False
What does the question about the National Health Service require for a thorough response?
A discussion of the qualities of the post-war welfare state
What should be compared to understand the impact of the National Health Service’s creation?
Other factors such as changing social makeup and political attitudes
What did the National Insurance Act of 1911 provide?
The Act provided free medical care and 13 weeks’ sick pay for members.
It only applied to certain workers and did not cover workers’ families.
What was the Labour Party’s stance on healthcare?
The Labour Party argued strongly in favour of greater state provision for healthcare.
What influenced the Liberal government regarding healthcare?
The Liberal government was partly persuaded by warnings about ‘national efficiency’ and Britain’s ability to compete economically and militarily.
What was the impact of the Second World War on healthcare?
The Second World War fundamentally shifted political attitudes and people’s expectations about healthcare.
What was established within three years after the end of the Second World War?
A National Health Service (NHS) was established.
What challenges did the founders of the NHS face?
They faced the challenge of overcoming vested interests and imposing order on a confusing healthcare system.
What did the NHS create?
The NHS created a national institution with universal free treatment at the point of service.
What criticisms emerged regarding the NHS?
Criticisms emerged over the persistence of private healthcare and the management and cost of the NHS.
When was the Ministry of Health set up?
The Ministry of Health was set up in 1919.
What did the Local Government Act of 1929 establish?
It set up public health committees run by county councils and county boroughs.
What was provided by local authorities in 1934?
Local authorities provided health services, including medical care for schoolchildren.
What was the state of healthcare in Britain before 1918?
Healthcare was an odd hybrid of state and private provision, managed by various agencies including the Poor Law and public health authorities.
What did the Labour Party advocate for before the First World War?
The Labour Party called for a nationally organised health system.
What did the First World War reveal about British healthcare?
41 percent of men were rated unfit for combat roles, and 10 percent were judged unusable in any military capacity.
When was the Ministry of Health established?
The Ministry of Health was set up in 1919.
What limitations did the Ministry of Health face?
It lacked statutory authority and political will to radically change the healthcare system.
What was the Conservative government’s response to the Royal Commission recommendation in 1926?
They failed to act on the recommendation to scrap or reform the health insurance system.
What percentage of health insurance was handled by a few big insurance companies?
Around 75 percent of health insurance was dealt with by a few big insurance companies.
What was the role of ‘Approved Societies’ under the 1911 National Insurance Act?
‘Approved Societies’ collected subscriptions and paid medical costs for state health insurance.
How many workers were covered by state health insurance by 1937?
Around 18 million workers were covered by state health insurance.
What issues did Friendly Societies face?
Some were too small to afford hospital treatment, leading to bankruptcies and lack of insurance for members.
Who were the first option for most medical care?
General Practitioners (GPs) were the first option for most medical care.
What challenges did patients face when visiting GPs?
Patients had to pay for consultations and medicines, which was difficult for those in poor areas.
What issues did the NHS reveal about the health of poor people after its launch in 1948?
Doctors were shocked by untreated conditions such as hernias, skin diseases, and dental issues.
What was the state of healthcare in Britain before 1918?
Healthcare was an odd hybrid of state and private provision, managed by various agencies including the Poor Law and public health authorities.
What did the Labour Party advocate for before the First World War?
The Labour Party called for a nationally organised health system.
What did the First World War reveal about British healthcare?
41 percent of men were rated unfit for combat roles, and 10 percent were judged unusable in any military capacity.
When was the Ministry of Health established?
The Ministry of Health was set up in 1919.
What limitations did the Ministry of Health face?
It lacked statutory authority and political will to radically change the healthcare system.
What was the Conservative government’s response to the Royal Commission recommendation in 1926?
They failed to act on the recommendation to scrap or reform the health insurance system.
What percentage of health insurance was handled by a few big insurance companies?
Around 75 percent of health insurance was dealt with by a few big insurance companies.
What was the role of ‘Approved Societies’ under the 1911 National Insurance Act?
‘Approved Societies’ collected subscriptions and paid medical costs for state health insurance.
How many workers were covered by state health insurance by 1937?
Around 18 million workers were covered by state health insurance.
What issues did Friendly Societies face?
Some were too small to afford hospital treatment, leading to bankruptcies and lack of insurance for members.
Who were the first option for most medical care?
General Practitioners (GPs) were the first option for most medical care.
What challenges did patients face when visiting GPs?
Patients had to pay for consultations and medicines, which was difficult for those in poor areas.
What issues did the NHS reveal about the health of poor people after its launch in 1948?
Doctors were shocked by untreated conditions such as hernias, skin diseases, and dental issues.
What is a voluntary hospital?
A hospital funded by charitable (voluntary) donations.
What challenges did voluntary hospitals face?
Many struggled to stay financially viable due to rising costs of advanced medical treatment and reliance on patient turnover.
What were the conditions of state-provided hospitals before 1939?
They often emerged from workhouse infirmaries and were overcrowded with elderly and chronically ill patients.
What did the 1929 Local Government Act do?
It empowered PACs to take over and develop workhouse infirmaries into proper hospitals.
What was the state of public hospitals in 1939?
Half of all public hospitals were still Poor Law infirmaries, with a shortage of beds and trained consultants.
How did the Second World War impact healthcare?
It served as a catalyst for change, leading to the establishment of nationally funded organizations and an Emergency Medical Service.
What was established in 1938 to deal with expected casualties?
A national system of blood transfusion depots was established near hospitals.
What significant report influenced the creation of the National Health Service?
Beveridge’s report heavily influenced the 1944 White Paper, A National Health Service.
What improvements in health occurred during the war?
Despite the war’s challenges, the health of the population improved due to government propaganda promoting healthy habits.
What was one of Beveridge’s recommendations for healthcare?
Healthcare should serve as a preventative as well as a curative service.
What was the primary goal of Aneurin Bevan as Minister for Health?
To create a centrally run National Health Service (NHS) funded by taxation rather than insurance.
What significant act established the NHS?
The 1946 National Health Service Act established a more coordinated, centralised system.
What was the main challenge faced in forming the NHS?
Doctors’ resistance to working as state employees.
What percentage of the British Medical Association voted against working within the NHS in February 1948?
90 percent voted against it.
What were the doctors’ main concerns regarding the NHS?
They argued that working for the state would undermine their clinical independence and were more concerned about losing income.
How did Bevan overcome doctors’ opposition to the NHS?
By granting doctors a fee for each patient rather than a direct salary and allowing consultants to retain private patients.
What was the outcome for doctors just before the launch of the NHS?
On 5 July 1948, 90 percent of doctors (18,000) joined the NHS.
What was Bevan’s reaction to gaining doctors’ support?
He was angry that he had to gain their support by ‘stuffing their mouths with gold’.
What significant health improvements occurred in Britain from 1918 to 1997?
The NHS allowed Britons to benefit from global advancements in combating diseases through research, vaccinations, and new medicines.
How did the introduction of antibiotics impact tuberculosis deaths in the UK?
In the first ten years of the NHS, deaths from tuberculosis fell from 25,000 to 5,000 per year due to new antibiotic drugs.
What was the impact of the mass immunisation programme in the mid-1950s?
There was a significant drop in cases of polio and diphtheria.
What was the decrease in whooping cough cases by 1970?
There was a 90 percent drop in cases of whooping cough by 1970.
What vaccine was developed in 1971 and when did the NHS start offering it for free?
The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) was developed in 1971, and the NHS began offering it free of charge in 1988.
How did improved midwifery affect maternal death rates in childbirth?
Maternal death in childbirth fell from one per 1,000 births in 1949 to 0.18 in 1970.
What changes in healthcare funding occurred in the 1960s?
Over 300 inadequate cottage hospitals were closed, and new centres of excellence and district general hospitals were established.
What was the increase in life expectancy for men and women from 1950 to 1979?
Life expectancy for men increased from 66 to 70, and for women from 71 to 75.
What diseases increased in prevalence due to an aging population?
Heart disease and cancer increased, while arthritis continued to be the largest health problem affecting many.
Who was Aneurin Bevan and what was his role in the NHS?
Aneurin Bevan was the Minister of Health who oversaw the foundation of the NHS after the 1945 election.
What significant political role did Bevan play in the Labour Party?
Bevan became a figurehead for the left of the party, known as the Bevanites, during a time of division within the Labour Party.
What was the impact of the introduction of charges for NHS services?
Bevan resigned from his position as Minister of Health due to the introduction of charges for prescriptions and dental treatment.
What was the trend in medical advances during the 1950s and 1960s?
Medical advances contributed to increased life expectancy, but also led to rising healthcare costs.
What was the significance of the first kidney transplant in the NHS?
The first kidney transplant occurred in 1961, and transplants quickly became more common.
What was the impact of the Pill on women’s health in the 1960s?
The Pill, introduced in the 1960s, allowed women to control their reproductive health more effectively.
What was the significance of the first full hip replacement?
The first full hip replacement was performed at the National Heart Hospital, marking a significant advancement in surgical procedures.
How did CT scans impact NHS hospitals?
CT (computerised tomography) scans became available for NHS hospitals, significantly improving diagnostic capabilities.
What was the impact of immunisation on tuberculosis cases by the early 1990s?
There was a 90 percent drop in cases of tuberculosis by the early 1990s.
What was the cost of the NHS as a percentage of GNP in 1950?
The NHS cost 4.1 percent of GNP in 1950.
What was the cost of the NHS as a percentage of GNP in 1970?
By 1970, the cost of the NHS had increased to 4.8 percent of GNP.
What was the cost of the NHS as a percentage of GNP in 1990?
By 1990, the cost of the NHS had risen to 14 percent of GNP.
What was one reason for the increased expense of the NHS?
Advances in medical science led to an increase in treatments available, including 33 antibiotics by 1968.
What public expectation emerged regarding the NHS?
People began to depend on the NHS for trivial complaints, contrary to Beveridge’s hopes.
How did the number of NHS staff change from 1948 to 1979?
The number of staff employed by the NHS doubled from 500,000 in 1948 to over one million in 1979.
What significant change occurred in 1951 regarding NHS charges?
Charges were introduced for dentures and spectacles in 1951.
What was the first kidney transplant and when did it occur?
The first kidney transplant took place at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in 1960.
What was the impact of the contraceptive pill introduced in 1961?
The Pill contributed to female sexual freedom and resulted in smaller families.
What significant legislation was passed in 1967 regarding abortion?
The Abortion Act was passed, making abortion legal up to 28 weeks into pregnancy.
What was the first full hip replacement and when was it carried out?
The first full hip replacement was carried out in 1962.
Who was Aneurin Bevan?
Aneurin Bevan was born in South Wales in 1897 and became a key figure in the establishment of the NHS.
