July 4th 2023.
As the NHS celebrates its 75th birthday, medical historian Dr Nicola Tallis has gone back in time to commemorate some of its greatest achievements. From the introduction of the world's first test tube baby to the launch of the contraceptive pill, the NHS has revolutionized medical progress and saved and improved countless lives.
Dr Tallis said, “The NHS is an integral part of our society and its impact on the medical history of Britain cannot be overstated. Most, if not all, of the UK population have relied on its services at some point in their lives, which is reflected in it being the biggest employer in Europe.”
This sentiment is echoed by a poll of 2000 Brits, in which 85% said the NHS is one of the nation’s finest achievements and 88% said it makes them proud to be British.
The NHS was founded in 1948, and its core mission was to provide free health care for all at the point of delivery. Aneurin Bevan is credited as its founder and is considered one of the most important figures in British politics of the 20th century.
The NHS has pioneered a multitude of medical breakthroughs over the years, from the UK’s first heart transplant in 1968 to the establishment of the organ donor register in 1994. In 2020, the NHS rolled out the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines at an unprecedented pace, scale and complexity.
The introduction of the Hospital Plan for England and Wales in 1962 marked a significant shift in how health care was provided. Prior to this, patients usually had to attend multiple, smaller community hospitals for different treatments. The plan revamp the physical infrastructure of the NHS, resulting in 90 new district general hospitals and 134 existing hospitals being revamped.
In 2008, the HPV vaccine was made available to all schoolgirls aged 12, helping to prevent cervical cancer and reducing the number of HPV infections. And in 2000, NHS walk-in centres were opened to improve access to high-quality healthcare.
The NHS has been at the forefront of medical progress for 75 years, and these are just some of the many incredible achievements it has made in that time. It is a source of immense pride for the nation, and long may it continue to save, change and improve lives.
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