WALT: Why was there opposition to the NHS?

WILFs: Can tell the story of how and when the NHS was set up (D)... Can describe and explain the motives behind the setting up of the NHS (C)... Can compare and contrast health care before and after the setting up of the NHS (B) Can explain why the setting up of the NHS was a struggle and why some groups opposed the NHS (A) Can assess the significance of the NHS to health and health care in Britain using the 4Rs (A*)

Questions… Read through the Creation of the NHS slides and answer the following Questions – A couple of sentences will do… 1. Who was the driving force behind the NHS? 2. What Year was it set up? 3. What was the problem with the National Insurance System in 1911? 4. What the economic problems of the NHS’ early years?

Creation of the NHS. The National Health Service was one of the major achievements of Atlee’s Labour government. The National Health Service (NHS) was introduced in in In 1911, the National Health Insurance system provided medical care for 21 million people (according to Bevan) but left the rest of the population having to pay for medical treatment. It became clear to both Beveridge and the Labour Party that people were being denied medical help simply because they could not afford to pay. The majority of doctors were opposed to the introduction of the NHS as they believed that they would lose money as a result of it. Their main opposition to the NHS was their belief that their professional freedom would be jeopardised i.e. that they would treat fewer private patients and, as a result, lose out financially. They also believed that the NHS would not allow patients to pick their doctor – though this proved to be an unfounded worry.

Creation of the NHS Once the NHS was introduced, it did prove to be popular with most people. 95% of all of the medical profession joined the NHS. In fact, the NHS proved to be too popular as it quickly found that its resources were being used up. From its earliest days, the NHS seemed to be short of money. Annual sums put aside for treatment such as dental surgery and glasses were quickly used up. The £2 million put aside to pay for free spectacles over the first nine months of the NHS went in six weeks. The government had estimated that the NHS would cost £140 million a year by In fact, by 1950 the NHS was costing £358 million. However, the popularity of the NHS meant that in the 1950 election, the Conservatives promised to keep it – though this was of little importance as Labour won that election. In 1951, the Labour government introduced a charge for some dental treatment (free false teeth) and for prescriptions for medicine. Aneurin Bevan resigned from the government in protest at this. Bevan wanted a free health service and nothing else.

Opposition… Re-arrange the boxes for arguments for and against the NHS. Once you have finished, read through the 4 Quotes with your study buddy and take notes on the opposition to the NHS. Extension – How would you summarize the Opposition to the NHS in FIVE Words --- OR what image comes to mind when thinking about opposition to the NHS.

It will reduce the amount of deaths dramatically. The soldiers who fought in the war would get all their treatment funded. The government knew there were large numbers of civilian casualties who would also need increasing care. The National Insurance scheme wasn’t working and a new scheme was needed. The recruits for the war were often unfit for fighting due to poor health. It allows for equal good health among the rich and the poor. Local authorities and charities ran the 3000 British hospitals. They did not want to give up the authority. Many thought that the NHS would cost too much. Doctors did not want to be employed by the government as they would not be able to sell their services. They thought they would lose money. Many felt that the NHS would lead to a state where people expected something for nothing. Many feared that the government were interfering too much in people’s lives and that they would know everything about everyone. FOR – Sort these arguments into order of importance. Explain why your top point is the most important. - AGAINST

1) The Daily Sketch (February, 1948) The State medical service is part of the Socialist plot to convert Great Britain into a National Socialist economy. The doctors' stand is the first effective revolt of the professional classes against Socialist tyranny. There is nothing that Bevan or any other Socialist can do about it in the shape of Hitlerian coercion.

(2) Aneurin Bevan, speech in the House of Commons (9th February, 1948) We have provided paid bed blocks to specialists, where they are able to charge private fees (Labour MPs shout "shame"). I agree at once that these are very serious things, and that, unless properly controlled, we can have a two-tier system in which it will be thought that members to the general public will be having worse treatment than those who are able to pay.

(3) Michael Foot, the editor of Tribune, was one of those who criticised Aneurin Bevan for his decision to allow specialists to have paid beds in National Health Service hospitals. The idea that specialists should have pay-beds was a concession. It was a direct departure from principle introduced only for the purpose of encouraging specialists to come into the Service and preventing them from setting up their private nursing homes. So the great day came - 5th July On the day itself three- quarters of the population had signed up with doctors under the scheme. Two months later, 39,500,000 people, or 93 per cent were enrolled in it. More than 20,000 general practitioners, about 90 per cent, participated from the scheme's inception.

(4) In her book My Life With Nye, Jennie Lee describes how one woman responded to the introduction of the National Health Service. There was a strict rule in Nye's Ministry that any unsolicited gifts sent to him should be promptly returned. On one occasion, and only one, an exception was made. Nye brought home a letter containing a white silk handkerchief with crochet round the edge. The hanky was for me. The letter was from an elderly Lancashire lady, unmarried, who had worked in the cotton mills from the age of twelve. She was overwhelmed with gratitude for the dentures and reading glasses she had received free of charge. The last sentence in her letter read, "Dear God, reform thy world beginning with me," but the words that hurt most were, "Now I can go into any company." The life-long struggle against poverty which these words revealed is what made all the striving worthwhile.

OPPOSITION TO THE NHS? How much opposition was there to the NHS ?

Plenaries You have a choice; -Draw your brain and fill it with what you have learnt. -Come up with three key words for the opposition to NHS. -Write a txt msg xplaining your learning. -Create a Paper plane and summaries learning on each part of the plane.