Help us celebrate 75 years of the NHS
Share your stories
5 July 2023 marks 75 years of the National Health Service and we want you to help us celebrate this major milestone.
Please get in touch and tell us your stories about St George’s. Whether you’ve worked for us, been a patient, or come from a family that has a history of working for St George’s, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact us to share your story – we only need a few details and, if possible, a photo. Please email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk with your story.
The history of the NHS
Treating 1.3 million people a day in England, the NHS touches all our lives, and today we cannot imagine life without it. As we mark 75 years of the NHS, we look back on the achievements of our organisation, as well as looking ahead to the opportunities we have to shape the future.
The seeds of the NHS were sown in the aftermath of World War II when Britain sought to rebuild a nation devastated by conflict.
The 1942 Beveridge Report, authored by Sir William Beveridge, highlighted the need for a comprehensive welfare state, including healthcare provision. This landmark report laid the groundwork for what would become the NHS
When it was founded in 1948, the NHS was the first universal health system to be available to all, free at the point of delivery. Those principles remain as relevant, and valued, today as they did in the years after the Second World War.
75 years on, the NHS’s founding principles remain intact. The public still support having a national health service, with 94% of people agreeing that healthcare should be free of charge, 84% that care should be available to everyone, and 62% that the NHS made them most proud to be British.
Since then, the NHS has innovated and adapted to meet the needs of each successive generation, always putting patients at the heart of everything it does.
Between 1948 to 1973, the number of doctors doubled, whilst anaesthetics advanced to enable longer and more complex surgery. Large-scale vaccination programmes protected children from whooping cough, measles and tuberculosis. We delivered huge medical advances, including the world’s first liver, heart and lung transplant, to pioneering new treatments, such as bionic eyes to restore sight.
Enduring Impact
The NHS has left an indelible mark on the British society, and its impact extends far beyond healthcare provision. It continues to be at the forefront during times of crisis, whether it be responding to outbreaks, addressing public health emergencies, or providing vital care during times of trauma.
As the NHS moves forward, it will face new challenges, but its rich history and commitment to care ensure that it remains a pillar of the British identity and a beacon of hope for millions.
