National Health Service Act 1948

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The National Health Service Act 1948 is the UK legislation that created the modern National Health Service, establishing a comprehensive, publicly funded healthcare system free at the point of use.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
healthcare legislation
administeredBy Minister of Health
cameIntoForce 5 July 1948
country United Kingdom
created National Health Service
createdBody Executive Council
surface form: Executive Councils

Hospital Management Committees
Regional Hospital Boards
enactedBy British Parliament
surface form: Parliament of the United Kingdom
establishedRight access to healthcare services for residents of England and Wales
fundingModel publicly funded through general taxation
government Attlee government
surface form: Clement Attlee ministry
inspired subsequent health service legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland
introducedBy Aneurin Bevan
jurisdiction England and Wales
language English
legacy foundation of the modern NHS in England and Wales
legalStatus repealed and consolidated into later NHS legislation
longTitle An Act to provide for the establishment of a comprehensive health service for England and Wales
opposedBy some sections of the medical profession
partySupport Labour Party (UK)
surface form: Labour Party
politicalContext post-World War II welfare state reforms
principle care based on clinical need, not ability to pay
care free at the point of delivery
universality of access
providedFor dental services
general medical services
hospital and specialist services
ophthalmic services
pharmaceutical services
purpose to establish a comprehensive health service
to provide healthcare free at the point of use
relatedTo Beveridge Report
reorganized community health services
hospital services
primary care services
repealedBy National Health Service Act 1977
royalAssent 1946
shortTitle National Health Service Act 1946
subjectMatter health service finance
hospital administration
medical services
public health
transferredToState local authority hospitals
voluntary hospitals

Referenced by (2)

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

NHS Scotland foundedAsPartOf National Health Service Act 1948
this entity surface form: United Kingdom National Health Service reforms of 1948
National Health Service legalBasis National Health Service Act 1948