The National Health Service Act 1946

Some good things come in small packages: and this compact document changed the world. Its proposals opened up the possibility of modern medicine, sweeping away economic barriers to healthcare that had excluded up to half the population.

There is also a beauty in simplicity, and even in the dry parliamentary language of a bill that in its first few paragraphs sets up the first ever universal and comprehensive tax-funded healthcare system, free to all at point of use.

This is more poignant in light of the current debate over attempts …

Log in

Log in using your username and password

Log in through your institution

Subscribe from £184 *

Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.

* For online subscription

Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56
(excludes VAT)

You can download a PDF version for your personal record.