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The creation of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1948 was one of the most significant developments in British public health history. For the first time, comprehensive healthcare was available to everyone, free at the point of use. Alongside the NHS, the 20th century saw extraordinary advances in medical science and technology.
Before 1948, healthcare in Britain was not free. People had to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medicines. The poor often went without treatment.
| Before the NHS | Detail |
|---|---|
| Panel system | Under the 1911 National Insurance Act, workers received free GP visits, but their families did not |
| Voluntary hospitals | Funded by charity; often overcrowded and underfunded |
| Local authority hospitals | Run by councils; varied hugely in quality |
| Private doctors | Expensive; only the wealthy could afford regular care |
Aneurin Bevan (1897--1960) was the Labour Health Minister who created the NHS.
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