Services provided

• Introduced in 1945, and before then 8 million people had never seen a doctor before
• The NHS funded medical research
• The national government took control of all hospitals. many hospitals were rebuilt and facilities were improved. money went into funding new equipment
• Health centres were set up
• NHS hospitals provided maternity care, child welfare services, and ambulances
• Family doctors, if GPs, working for the NHS provided care and advice for people in the community. doctors were distributed more evenly throughout the country
• Hospital doctors were paid by the government but they were still allowed to treat private patients
• Free dentistry, spectacles and medicines were provided
• Vaccination programmes were organised and funded through the NHS
• The NHS spent money on training specialist staff. Grants were provided to help find degrees and qualifications linked to medicine. As a result, medical careers became accessible for poorer students