National Health Service Act 1946

E23215

The National Health Service Act 1946 was the landmark UK legislation that created a comprehensive, tax-funded national health service providing universal healthcare free at the point of use.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Creation of the National Health Service 1

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
healthcare legislation
aimedToProvide comprehensive health service for all residents
basedOn Beveridge Report
cameIntoForce 1948-07-05
country United Kingdom
coverage entire resident population regardless of income
created National Health Service
universal health service for England and Wales
established hospital management committees
regional hospital boards
fundingModel general taxation
historicalSignificance foundation of the modern National Health Service in England and Wales
implementedOn NHS Vesting Day
inspiredBy principles of social democracy
introducedBy Attlee government
surface form: Labour government of Clement Attlee
jurisdiction England and Wales
keyArchitect Aneurin Bevan
language English
largelySupersededBy National Health Service Act 1977
legacy established tax-funded universal healthcare model in the UK
legalStatus repealed in large part
legislativeBody British Parliament
surface form: Parliament of the United Kingdom
longTitle An Act to provide for the establishment of a comprehensive health service for England and Wales, and for purposes connected therewith
NHSVestingDayDate 1948-07-05
partlyRepealedBy National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973
policyArea public health
social welfare
principle comprehensive health coverage
healthcare free at the point of use
services based on clinical need, not ability to pay
regulated general dental services
general medical services
ophthalmic services
pharmaceutical services
relatedLegislation National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947
National Health Service Act 1977
reorganized hospital services in England and Wales
local authority health services in England and Wales
primary care services in England and Wales
replaced patchwork of voluntary and municipal hospital provision
royalAssentDate 1946-11-06
shortTitle National Health Service Act 1946 self-link
sponsoredBy Ministry of Health
surface form: Ministry of Health (United Kingdom)
subjectHeading National health services—Law and legislation—England
National health services—Law and legislation—Wales
transferredToState local authority hospitals in England and Wales
voluntary hospitals in England and Wales
yearEnacted 1946

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Attlee government implementedPolicy National Health Service Act 1946
this entity surface form: Creation of the National Health Service
Attlee government implementedPolicy National Health Service Act 1946
NHS Wales legalBasis National Health Service Act 1946
National Health Service legalBasis National Health Service Act 1946
National Assistance Act 1948 relatedTo National Health Service Act 1946
National Insurance Act 1946 relatedTo National Health Service Act 1946
National Health Service Act 1946 shortTitle National Health Service Act 1946 self-link
National Health Service Act 1948 shortTitle National Health Service Act 1946