Rebecca Ebony Goulbourne

Launched on July 5th 1948, Britain is celebrating 75 years of the National Health Service (NHS). 

The Formation of the National Health Service

The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK’s publicly funded healthcare system.

Since its establishment in the aftermath of the Second World War, the NHS has been dedicated to providing quality and up-to-date medical treatment to all citizens, regardless of their financial status. Its mission is to ensure that everybody has equal access to healthcare, irrespective of means, age, sex or occupation.

Rishi Sunak proclaimed in a recent speech: ”For 75 years, the NHS has existed for an enduring moral purpose: To give every single person in our country the security that comes from knowing that if you’re sick, you will be cared for.”

Celebrating 75 Years of the NHS

Former Chancellor Nigel Lawson once stated that the NHS was the closest thing Britain had to a religion, due to the widely-held affection shared by the public and those who work for the service.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, support and gratitude for NHS workers was demonstrated through weekly mass applauses, an event now synonymous with the lockdown period. Further fundraising, donations and volunteer work have provided vital economic lifelines to the service.

On July 5th 2023, London marked 75 years of the service.

A special service took place at Westminster Abbey to celebrate its birthday. Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined NHS staff, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and other senior government figures at the event.

Celebrations also saw over 70 British landmarks, including the London Eye, illuminated in blue. Photography competitions, Parkruns and NHS Big Tea events also commemorated the anniversary.

”We must end the Tory chaos”

Despite the popularity of the NHS, there are concerns for its future.

Demand for treatment has led to a decline in service quality and extensive wait times. The waiting list for hospital treatment rose to a record of 7.2 million in January 2023.

Doctors and nurses continue to strike over pay and working conditions, and the service faces overall funding cuts. While no spending cuts have been made to the Department for Health and Social Care, cuts have been made to local government budgets which are used to fund public health services.

However, Health Secretary Steve Barclay told Sky News that Conservative spending cuts are not the reason behind the ongoing problems faced by the NHS. “We’ve had an older population, medical advances, costs have increased,” he stated.

In her tribute to the NHS, Labour MP Dawn Butler condemned the Conservative Party for the challenges faced by the NHS. She wrote: “Today, I celebrate the incredible healthcare system that has saved countless lives, including my own.”

“Thank you to the tireless NHS workers whose dedication is unwavering. We must end the Tory chaos and ensure a well-funded NHS for all.”

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Featured image courtesy of Red Dot on Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Undergrad English student with an intense passion for storytelling, writing, and critical thinking.

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