Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 09:49 PM Mar 2014

question about the origin of NHS in UK, please

Hello all nice DU'ers in the fair green land of UK !,

I read somewhere that the devastation of WW2 was a huge contributor to the genesis of the NHS. Is that correct ? Thank you for your patience, as always.

Steve

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
question about the origin of NHS in UK, please (Original Post) steve2470 Mar 2014 OP
Here's a link of material to peruse while you're waiting for UK to wake up and weigh in. MADem Mar 2014 #1
thanks MADem steve2470 Mar 2014 #2
There was a report as early as 1920, the 'Dawson Report', which recommended publicly funded LeftishBrit Mar 2014 #3
thanks for the info ! steve2470 Mar 2014 #4
Part of its intent dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #5

LeftishBrit

(41,192 posts)
3. There was a report as early as 1920, the 'Dawson Report', which recommended publicly funded
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 04:01 AM
Mar 2014

universal healthcare. But it was essentially ignored until the 1940s.


The NHS idea was not purely due to WW2, though the war did have an influence. Partly, this is because the dangers and disruptions of the war created an impetus to build something better than before, resulting in the election of the progressive Attlee government in 1945; and indeed of the 'postwar consensus' between the parties on the full-employment state and the importance of public services in a mixed economy. More directly, the war and the threat of air raids had led to the establishment of government-run Emergency Medical Services, which were a precedent for government-run peacetime medical services.

Here is a link to a brief summary of the history of the NHS:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/nhshistory/Pages/NHShistory1948.aspx

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
4. thanks for the info !
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 09:36 AM
Mar 2014

I know I can use Google/ DuckDuckGo for an answer, but I always like to get direct feedback from UK DU'ers. Thanks again.

Steve

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
5. Part of its intent
Fri Mar 28, 2014, 07:18 AM
Mar 2014

when introduced in 1948 was to help give our children a healthy upbringing following the reduction in our population size due to loss of life in WW2.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»United Kingdom»question about the origin...