The Cohort Of 1946...

[sandyRoe]

Are its members living proof that the greatest achievement of the post war Labour Party, the establishment of the NHS, was something very special?

[Old_Geezer]

It is an interesting project. Well worth doing. But I think the NHS is a special project anyway, regardless. The idea of health care for all the citizens from the public purse. We just need to ensure it runs well, continues to fulfill it's function, and is funded adequately (or preferably better).

[TerryScriv]

The NHS was the result of a process started in 1942 and was completed in 1948. It was a Liberal idea that stemmed from the Beveridge Report of 1942. If anyone was the architect of the NHS it was Beveridge, NOT Bevan.The white paper that paved the way for the foundation of the NHS was prepared by a Conservative Minister for Health, Henry Willink in 1944.
All the necessary legislation required to permit its founding, except for the final bill, was passed before the National Government, led by Churchill, left office on July 5th 1945.
Particularly important was the financial and enabling legislation that allowed privately owned assets to be passed into state ownership.
When the final Bill that created a National Health Service as a legal entity was put before Parliament by Bevan, the Minister for Health, in 1946, all the important spadework had already been done.

The NHS was on its way regardless of which party won the 1945 election, so for Labour to claim full credit is akin to the anchor man in a relay team claiming credit for the whole team's victory.

[Sqad]

I agree entirely Terry........but with my standing on AB...

\\\\"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment", \\\

[Peter Pedant]

such a great idea that it has been copied nowhere else in the world

and yes I agree that it was taught in skools fifty years ago that Beveridge was the planner and Bevan the deliverer of the NHS.

It was remarkable that in 1942, the Great and good said to themselves - well we are gonna win the war so let's start thinking about what we do after victory.

[Svejk]

You're taking your life in your hands, terry.

[sandyRoe]

OK.
'It matters not if it is a white cat or black'. Or, for that matter, who got it to deal with the mice.
Would members of a cohort born in 1876 have lived as long or been as healthy?

[Peter Pedant]

erm the real lengthening of the life expectancy in England is only recent and there was a long period of NHS where it didnt ( go up )

[anneasquith]

''' but with my standing on AB ''' ?

[Peter Pedant]

If you really want children to live longer or a greater proportion reach adulthoodthe way to do it is

1) give them clean water and make the sewers work
2) decent vaccination scheme

[sandyRoe]

There's a pub in Soho celebrates the life of a chap who did the first of those two. ^

[Old_Geezer]

To be copied elsewhere in the world one would need a government with the moral courage to change the status quo where the successful can already pay for their health care and have no wish to spend to help the rest of the community. IMO it is only right that a society ensures health care for the whole nation by taking it into it's own authority's hands. Just a pity we don't extend the same idea to research into medicines and suchlike, but rely on private companies looking for a profit before they'll find an incentive to work on something.