Birth of the National Health Service

Synopsis: On 5 July 1948, the National Health Service was launched with the proud expectation that it would make the UK the ‘envy of the world’. This collection of programme extracts, party political broadcasts, press conference recordings, and complete programmes from the BBC Archive help trace the early years of the NHS from radical plan through to triumphant birth and on to fully fledged but sometimes problematic service.

Through programmes, documents and images taken from the BBC’s archives you can witness for yourself a time before the NHS existed, the disputes surrounding its inception and the difficulties it faced in the early years. Included are contributions from Sir William Beveridge, Dr Edith Somerskill, Clement Atlee, Aneurin Bevan, as well as doctors and other health practitioners . Extracts are taken from THE BRAINS TRUST, PANORAMA and other programmes looking at issues facing the NHS over the years, as well as the complete ON CALL TO A NATION looking back after 10 years to the founding of the NHS.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2009
Year of production: 1942 onwards
Subjects: Medical sciences; Politics & government
Keywords: archive television; National Health Service

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