News1 min ago
Before NHS
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.In Northern Ireland, most births before the NHS were home births. A local woman would assist at the birth, and if the doctor had to be called, it would cost money. My sister was born in 1944 and she was born at home with a neighbour helping but by the time I was born in 1950 hospital births were free of charge. Don't know about the rest of the UK
I regret to say that, although unquestionably ancient, I'm not British, so can't help you there neti... as far as I know you basically paid for your own health care or relied on charity if you couldn't. When doctors slapped the bottoms of newborn babies they were actually sticking a price tag on; yours probably said 'This Style 10s6d' or something like it. I think National Insurance existed, though.
Here's wikipedia