The National Health Service Crisis, 1951 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

Professor Bogdanor explains how the NHS and The Korean War caused near civil war on the Labour Party that created it: www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and...
The NHS had been established by the post-war Labour government in 1948. By 1951, there were already heavy pressures on health spending. In addition, after the Korean War broke out in 1950, Britain decided to rearm. In his budget, the Chancellor, Hugh Gaitskell, sought to balance his budget by imposing charges on false teeth and spectacles. Two cabinet ministers resigned in protest - Aneurin Bevan, architect of the health service, and Harold Wilson, the future Prime Minister. The crisis provoked a running battle between Left and Right in the Labour Party which lasted for over forty years.
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[@nategilbert7397]

A very evenhanded and informative lecture. Particularly revealing to those of us in the United States who are grappling with ever increasing medical costs and the necessity for reform in our healthcare system. Thank you, Professor Bogdanor. And thank you Gresham College for making these lectures freely available to all.

[@alphanemo6121]

These lectures are useful, concise and focused, thanks VB and GC...

[@redneckwalrus6694]

thank you professor vernon, u a real one

[@miaechoi5554]

Thanks a lot for sharingg this video !

[@posmoo9790]

I assumed we would get an explanation about how/when/why those in power made the decision to delay treatment and purposefully delay rollout of new technology.

[@th8257]

I would have thought that was fairly obvious. Money. New medical technology is hugely expensive. The demand for health care is pretty much infinite.

[@RonJohn63]

This reminds me of the alleged quote by Margaret Thatcher about socialism and running out of other people's money.

[@bripat22]

RonJohn63 Other people being the extremely wealthy whose interests she represented

[@jayocallaghan2265]

It doesn't work because when health care is free the price goes up and the quality goes down

[@th8257]

@@bripat22 or in many cases it was the massive amounts of money we were borrowing from abroad.

[@RKarmaKill]

Jesus Christ rolled over in his grave ...

[@oml81mm]

Surprised that there was no mention of Beveridge or indeed of Bevin's greater "welfare State".

[@th8257]

There is mention of Beveridge, with regard to his original plan for charges for staying in hospital? Also, BevIn had nothing to do with the welfare state. Think you're thinking of BevAn.