NHS at 70

When Nye Bevan launched the NHS on July 5, 1948, he said the UK now had “the moral leadership of the world.” Seventy years later, as it celebrates its anniversary, the NHS still provides free health care to all UK citizens. However, it is struggling. According to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, last year’s winter crisis was its “worst ever”. Scandals have damaged its reputation. And although the government recently announced a “birthday present” of £20 billion per year, doctors warn that this still “falls short of what is needed.” In this series, The Day interviews some of the men and women of the NHS.