The NHS: 2023

British society was different in 1948 when the NHS was created; post-war Britain was embarking upon a social revolution. Health provision was under pressure and access to healthcare was a privilege based on wealth, rather than a right for all. Some voluntary hospitals were suffering financial failure. Wartime government had demonstrated that top-down command and control of healthcare could yield results, including innovation in emergency medicine. Younger doctors had new ideas about how health should be managed.

The government of the day commissioned Sir William Beveridge to research ways in which Britain should be rebuilt following the war. His 1942 report recommended that the government tackle the five ‘giant evils’ of want, disease, squalor, ignorance and idleness and the National Health Service (NHS) was one of the results.

In 65 years, much has been achieved, in particular tackling the problem of communicable disease. But how will 2023 compare to 1948? For one, we are living longer, and we should celebrate that. When it reviewed social care, the Health Select Committee outlined that a man born in the late 19th century could expect to live until 66 – infant mortality and the world wars contributing significantly to premature deaths. A man surviving to retirement age in 1948 could expect to live until 78 years of age.

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Ethosis aimed at public sector leaders, politicians, academics and policy specialists debating the future of public services today.