UK Confidential: The Birth of the NHS

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UK Confidential

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Martha Kearney and guests reveal the truth behind previously secret government files

Martha Kearney, in conversation with former government ministers, reveals the truth behind the headlines of previously secret government files that have been released to the public

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The Birth of the NHS

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Martha Kearney looks at the arguments over creating the NHS in wartime government papers.

On its 70th anniversary, Martha Kearney offers a fresh perspective on the birth of the NHS as she opens up the National Archives and delves into the government files of the time.

On the 70th anniversary of the NHS, Martha Kearney offers a fresh perspective on its creation as she opens up the files held at The National Archives and delves into the secret government papers of the time.

Home Intelligence reports were compiled from the censorship of the post, letters to the BBC and conversations in pubs as reported by regional intelligence officers. They urged ministers to reflect public fears of any "shilly-shallying" over the implementation of the Beveridge Report in 1942.

Verbatim notes from cabinet discussions divulge the tension within the war time Conservative dominated coalition government over its public stance on the report: "We didn't come into this Government on the basis only of dealing with War."

In 1945, after a Labour landslide at the first post-war General Election, the new left-wing firebrand health minister Aneurin Bevan ushers in major changes, while pushing back against cautious cabinet colleagues. "Here is our chance to do something big," he says, "Are we to sacrifice that chance for fear of the parish pump?"

After a very public spat between Bevan and the British Medical Association, the NHS is born on 5th July 1948. However, funding challenges immediately befell the service and the cabinet's attempts to deal with it are revealed: "We did stop one Dane from getting an artificial leg for nothing."

Producer: Kate Dixon
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

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