60th anniversary of the National Health Service

In a message to the medical profession in the Lancet Aneurin Bevan, the Minister of Health said:

	“On 5th July we start together, the new National Health Service. It has not had an altogether trouble-free gestation! There have been understandable anxieties, inevitable in so great and novel an undertaking. Nor will there be overnight any miraculous removal of our more serious shortages of nurses and others and of modern re-planned buildings and equipment...”

On 5 July 1948 1,143 voluntary hospitals with 90,000 beds and 1,545 municipal hospitals with 390,000 beds were taken over by the NHS in England and Wales. The coming into force of the National Health Service Act made 1948 a particularly busy year for the British Red Cross. In many parts of the country the authorities invited the Red Cross to continue and extend their services under the acts. The Red Cross was used as a signpost for members of the public confronted by all the changes in social legislation, turning to the organisation for advice and interpretation.

From the original concept the Red Cross has gradually expanded its activities to embrace much wider aims. Throughout its existence the organisation has faced many changing situations and has shown itself able to adapt and modify its role at the same time developing its own services. A member of the Red Cross wrote in 1951: "The large majority of the general public…always seem surprised to learn that local divisions of the British Red Cross Society are working harder than ever for the social welfare of the community; possibly they think that the National Health Service has, as it were changed the picture overnight.”

Hospitals and Nursing

Welfare and UK services

Emergency Response