What changed when the NHS was established?/Why was the NHS established?
* To identify the changes that came about in the treatment of disease
due to the creation of the NHS.
* To identify the main reasons why the NHS was established in 1948.
* To recognise advantages and disadvantages to the structure of the NHS
in the 21st Century.
care for all in 1948
Description: The rise of the NHS is clearly explained here and
is tied in with the increase use of surgery to treat medical conditions.
The completely free NHS lasted only four years before prescription
charges had to be introduced as the scheme was costing more than
the government was prepared to spend. An example is given of how
far technology has brought us, from originally having only four
minutes to carry out a heart operation to modern day machines which
take over the role of the heart.
of the National Health Service
Description: The introduction of the National Health Service in
1948, entitling most people to free at point of access health care.
Personal recollections compare access to medicine before and after
the introduction of the NHS.
1. The demand for the types of care provided by the NHS.
As soon as it started there were 30 million people who registered with
a doctor. The poor could go to a doctor, get treatment and not worry about
the cost. Millions of prescriptions were written each year. The rich also
used the NHS. There were few private patients who still wanted to pay
for treatment or hospital care: though there are still some areas in which
people do opt, in relatively large numbers, to pay for private health
care. The types of services offered by the NHS is vast, covering all manner
of health issues from pregnancy through to death.
2. The treatment that the NHS gives patients.
Open to everyone. More surgery is done. There are better anaesthetics
so there is more complicated surgery. There are heart transplants. Patients
are treated for cancer with surgery or chemotherapy. There are hip replacements.
Childless couples can get fertility treatment. Accident and emergency
departments treat millions of patients. Children are vaccinated against
diseases like TB and measles. A criticism of the treatment that the NHS
gives is that in some cases the waiting time for the treatment is too
3. Health education.
There are campaigns about the risks from smoking. Fewer people smoke now
than in the past. People are warned about alcohol abuse. The government
uses the NHS to spread ideas about the importance of a healthy diet and
regular exercise. As a result of these people are living longer. Life
expectancy is around 80 years. This type of education includes health
visitors, education packs for schools and for use in surgeries and public
4. The health of the poorest people.
The poor suffer more from cancer and heart disease. They are more likely
to smoke. They are also the least likely to access information about healthy
living, partly because literacy levels tend to be lowest in more deprived
areas. For some of the poor a healthy diet is not possible due to the
cost. Fewer of the poor visit the dentist regularly.
5. Women’s health.
Women now visit the doctor more often. They visit the doctor more than
men do. Before the NHS they did not go as often as men (they did not have
health insurance). There are screening programmes for breast cancer and
Use software such as Windows Movie Maker to collate video clips, images
and text. You can add a voiceover or soundtrack if desired. Note - you
will need to download the clips and possibly convert them into a different
format, depending on which video editing software you are using. My pupils
- the files are all stored on the school network.